By Berl Falbaum
Now, that gaffes-gate has ended with President Biden having bowed out, we might turn our attention to Donald Trump’s mental acuity and gaffes.
This issue has escaped the media’s headlights. For reasons which are somewhat opaque, nary a word has been written or said about Trump’s many missteps, while Biden suffered endless, almost cruel, media attention. Many believe that it was the media’s onslaught that led to Biden’s exit.
So, in the interest of “bi-partisanship” let’s examine Trump gaffeism:
• Trump confused Nikki Haley, his major challenger in the GOP primaries and his former ambassador to the United Nations, with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
• He bragged that he beat President Obama decisively in 2016. He defeated Hillary Clinton but barely.
• He frequently talks about the United “Stage.”
• He said his doctor told him he was mentally fit, but got the name of his doctor wrong.
• He called the prime minister of Hungary the president of Turkey.
• He mixed up Biden with President Obama several times.
• He warned that Biden could lead the U.S. into World War II -- that’s II not III.
• He called a MAGA supporter “Argentina” -- presumably the Argentina in South America. MAGA, he said, is the “greatest movement ... maybe in the history of any country, even Argentina. You know, Argentina, great guy. He’s a big Trump guy. He loves Trump. I love him because he loves Trump. Anybody that loves me. I like them.”
• He frequently fell asleep at his trial in New York.
• “... Check out the oranges (he meant “origins”) of the investigation.”
• “... every day they sacrifice for the furniture and future of our country.”
• Trump said he does not know who recommended Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, as a possible Treasury Secretary in his next administration. Guess who mentioned Dimon for that post? Trump.
• He confused a poll with a legislative bill.
• He confused 9/11 with the convenience store, 7/11.
• While on the witness stand in one trial, he said he was “too busy in the White House” to help prepare financial statements in 2021. But Biden was president at the time.
• He confused Hamas, the terrorist organization, with “hummus,” a Middle Eastern dish made of chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic.
• Discussing wind turbines, Trump said they were killing whales “in numbers never seen before.” That’s because the number is zero.
• “It’s an amazing thing” that the coronavirus “affects virtually nobody.”
• He condemned a New York Times Op-Ed article by “enenamess.” He meant Anonymous.
• The Veneswaylass (Venezuela) National Assembly was risking the country’s future.
• He said that “some people” don’t think mask-wearing is necessary during the pandemic. When pressed about who thinks this, he said, “waiters.” A couple days later, when asked the same question again, he said, “waiters.”
• "The kidney has a very special place in the heart.”
• He thanked a business man sitting next to him for the investment his company made in the country: “We appreciate it very much, Tim Apple.” The man’s name, on a placard in front of him, was Tim Cook.
• During a campaign stop, Trump greeted the crowd: “Hello, to a place where we have done very well, Sioux Falls.” Sioux Falls is in South Dakota. Problem: He was in Sioux City, Iowa.
• During a speech in South Carolina, Trump confused former Florida Governor Jeb Bush with his brother, former President George W. Bush.
• “I don’t repeat myself. I don’t repeat myself.”
• "Belgium is a beautiful city.”
Try reading the text of one of Trump’s speeches at his rallies. I have. Much can only be described as incomprehensible gibberish. Consider this: “... which is incapable of solvin’ even the sollest smallest problem. The simplest of problems, we can no longer solve. We can’t do anything. We are an institute in a powerful death penalty. We will put this on."
Or this: “Human trafficking, one of the worst things ever, all at a level that it’s never been at -- because of the Internet, you wouldn’t think -- you’d think of it as an ancient statement.”
Early in his presidency, Trump told us the U.S won the Revolutionary War in 1775 because the Continental Army captured the airports. He apparently confused horse-drawn carriages for fighter planes.
He also mentioned the wrong war that prompted Francis Scott Key to write his poem, the Star-Spangled Banner. Scott wrote it during the War of 1812, not the Revolutionary War.
“Bartlett’s Book of Quotations” refused to accept any of these quotes for its next edition, saying they have to be credible.
————————
Berl Falbaum is a veteran journalist and author of 12 books.
Now, that gaffes-gate has ended with President Biden having bowed out, we might turn our attention to Donald Trump’s mental acuity and gaffes.
This issue has escaped the media’s headlights. For reasons which are somewhat opaque, nary a word has been written or said about Trump’s many missteps, while Biden suffered endless, almost cruel, media attention. Many believe that it was the media’s onslaught that led to Biden’s exit.
So, in the interest of “bi-partisanship” let’s examine Trump gaffeism:
• Trump confused Nikki Haley, his major challenger in the GOP primaries and his former ambassador to the United Nations, with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
• He bragged that he beat President Obama decisively in 2016. He defeated Hillary Clinton but barely.
• He frequently talks about the United “Stage.”
• He said his doctor told him he was mentally fit, but got the name of his doctor wrong.
• He called the prime minister of Hungary the president of Turkey.
• He mixed up Biden with President Obama several times.
• He warned that Biden could lead the U.S. into World War II -- that’s II not III.
• He called a MAGA supporter “Argentina” -- presumably the Argentina in South America. MAGA, he said, is the “greatest movement ... maybe in the history of any country, even Argentina. You know, Argentina, great guy. He’s a big Trump guy. He loves Trump. I love him because he loves Trump. Anybody that loves me. I like them.”
• He frequently fell asleep at his trial in New York.
• “... Check out the oranges (he meant “origins”) of the investigation.”
• “... every day they sacrifice for the furniture and future of our country.”
• Trump said he does not know who recommended Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, as a possible Treasury Secretary in his next administration. Guess who mentioned Dimon for that post? Trump.
• He confused a poll with a legislative bill.
• He confused 9/11 with the convenience store, 7/11.
• While on the witness stand in one trial, he said he was “too busy in the White House” to help prepare financial statements in 2021. But Biden was president at the time.
• He confused Hamas, the terrorist organization, with “hummus,” a Middle Eastern dish made of chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic.
• Discussing wind turbines, Trump said they were killing whales “in numbers never seen before.” That’s because the number is zero.
• “It’s an amazing thing” that the coronavirus “affects virtually nobody.”
• He condemned a New York Times Op-Ed article by “enenamess.” He meant Anonymous.
• The Veneswaylass (Venezuela) National Assembly was risking the country’s future.
• He said that “some people” don’t think mask-wearing is necessary during the pandemic. When pressed about who thinks this, he said, “waiters.” A couple days later, when asked the same question again, he said, “waiters.”
• "The kidney has a very special place in the heart.”
• He thanked a business man sitting next to him for the investment his company made in the country: “We appreciate it very much, Tim Apple.” The man’s name, on a placard in front of him, was Tim Cook.
• During a campaign stop, Trump greeted the crowd: “Hello, to a place where we have done very well, Sioux Falls.” Sioux Falls is in South Dakota. Problem: He was in Sioux City, Iowa.
• During a speech in South Carolina, Trump confused former Florida Governor Jeb Bush with his brother, former President George W. Bush.
• “I don’t repeat myself. I don’t repeat myself.”
• "Belgium is a beautiful city.”
Try reading the text of one of Trump’s speeches at his rallies. I have. Much can only be described as incomprehensible gibberish. Consider this: “... which is incapable of solvin’ even the sollest smallest problem. The simplest of problems, we can no longer solve. We can’t do anything. We are an institute in a powerful death penalty. We will put this on."
Or this: “Human trafficking, one of the worst things ever, all at a level that it’s never been at -- because of the Internet, you wouldn’t think -- you’d think of it as an ancient statement.”
Early in his presidency, Trump told us the U.S won the Revolutionary War in 1775 because the Continental Army captured the airports. He apparently confused horse-drawn carriages for fighter planes.
He also mentioned the wrong war that prompted Francis Scott Key to write his poem, the Star-Spangled Banner. Scott wrote it during the War of 1812, not the Revolutionary War.
“Bartlett’s Book of Quotations” refused to accept any of these quotes for its next edition, saying they have to be credible.
————————
Berl Falbaum is a veteran journalist and author of 12 books.
