President Donald Trump requires a written note reminding him how to be sympathetic to survivors of a high school shooting.
We know this, because a photojournalist captured his talking points when meeting with students of Stoneman Douglas High School, which exist purely to make Trump appear sympathetic while talking about gun control to gun violence survivors.
He met with students and representatives of Stoneman Douglas today, speaking to for just over an hour. Footage from the meeting mostly shows Trump’s hands being empty, but at some point, he took his notes out, and they were snapped by AP photographer Carolyn Kaster. (And yes, that’s a ’45’ monogrammed on his cuff. Ugh.)
They include notes on, “What would you most want me to know about your experience?” (guns), “What can we do to help you feel safe?” (ban guns) and a simple request for resources or ideas (see point two).
But that final point? It merely say,s “I hear you”.
We’re assuming a White House aide wrote it down in order to help Trump stay on track, lest he start rambling about teachers carrying guns inside the classroom OH WAIT THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT HE DID.
Trump isn’t known for being good in a crisis. If he decides to make a statement – like in Heather Heyer‘s death, or the California wildfires – it takes days and masses of public outcry for him to do so. He’s been criticised in the last few days for forgetting about the victims of a crisis over praising first responders, and for joking around when he should have been serious. (A thumbs up for meeting with survivors of gun violence? Please.)
So it makes sense that Trump needs these talking points as a reminder to be a human being. But christ, is it depressing.
“(5) I hear you” https://t.co/tGXPfmW7jw
— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) February 21, 2018
“I hear you.” He needed that written down. https://t.co/KAM6yWFfZn
— Mark Follman (@markfollman) February 21, 2018
I think I found one of the paid actors we’ve been hearing about. https://t.co/jnXWP37KIy
— Jason Roeder (@jasonroeder) February 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/status/966446487793209344
Anyway, to cheer you up a bit, check out the thousands of teens who marched on Florida‘s capital demanding gun control this morning. These kids are going to chance the freaking world.
