Conservative commentator Ben Ferguson suggested Tuesday morning that President Donald Trump who was “the real victim” of the media after he was called out for smearing former president Barack Obama with a lie in an effort to defend his lack of leadership following the ISIS ambush in Niger that killed four American soldiers.
On Monday, Trump claimed that he hasn’t called the families of the four soldiers killed because it’s traditionally not done. That was so far from the truth that the internet exploded with photos of past presidents on both sides of the aisle calling families or standing at Dover as their bodies came off of planes.
Appearing on CNN, Ferguson explained that Trump’s response was a reflex because “he was on the defense as if there was a criticism of him.” The White House later was forced to “clarify” Trump’s response saying that Trump was told “they did not always call.”
Panelist Jenn Psaki fired back saying that “lying has become a favorite past time for President Trump.”
“I worked for President Obama for eight years, and not only did he call the families, he welcomed gold star families to the White House, and he visited Walter Reed every month, and visited Dover and welcomed and honored the bodies of fallen soldiers. I would ask whether President Trump is doing any of those things. Honoring soldiers or military and families is part of what we focused on nearly every single day. I know that was the case for President [George W.] Bush as well. It’s disheartening and I find it pathetic. We did not publicize all these visits, and neither did Bush or his predecessors.”
Ferguson interjected: “I think the president’s point is, ‘Look, I was going to contact them and I wrote letters over the weekend, and not every single time a soldier passes away in action do presidents call them,’” Ferguson tried to explain. “Unfortunately, this has turned into a political talking point.”
But Co-host Alisyn Camerota wasn’t buying it, saying that it was Trump that caused this problem and this distraction by blaming his inaction on past presidents.
“He did that by throwing his predecessors under the bus,” she said. “You are trying to come up with the logic of why he would say that,” she cut in. “Why, when he is criticized, he will throw past presidents under the bus like that?”
Psaki cut in to say that previous presidents had thousands, while Trump has had four, and still couldn’t manage it. Instead, Trump made it about him, claiming it was “hard” for him to do.
You can watch the exchange here.
