29 days since the National Day of Patriotic Devotion
(Extra!)
“At Orlando Melbourne International Airport in Florida, Trump addressed a hangar packed with supporters in an event organized not by the White House but by Trump’s own campaign committee. “I’m here because I want to be among my friends and among the people,” Trump told the enthusiastic crowd before running through a long list of campaign promises and what he said were his administration’s early accomplishments.” National Public Radio, 18 February 2017
“Trump used [Air Force One] to stage a dramatic arrival at a hangar filled with 9,000 of his supporters. For 45 minutes, Trump basked in the glow of the love of those who still believe in him and who interrupted him with adoring applause nearly 100 times. He reiterated his campaign promises, bragged about things he has already done, blamed Obama for leaving him with “a mess like you wouldn’t believe,” denounced the “fake news” media, pulled a fan onto the stage, referenced a terrorist attack in Sweden the night before that didn’t happen, and compared himself to Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln.” The Washington Post, 18 February 2017
“Swedes reacted with confusion, anger and ridicule on Sunday to a vague remark by President Trump that suggested that something terrible had occurred in their country. During a campaign-style rally on Saturday in Florida, Mr. Trump issued a sharp if discursive attack on refugee policies in Europe, ticking off a list of places that have been hit by terrorists. “You look at what’s happening,” he told his supporters. “We’ve got to keep our country safe. You look at what’s happening in Germany, you look at what’s happening last night in Sweden. Sweden, who would believe this?” Nothing particularly nefarious happened in Sweden on Friday – or Saturday, for that matter – and Swedes were left baffled.” The New York Times, 19 February 2017
Video and full transcript of Trump’s speech, via Vox.com
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