Remember when Trump…

praised Greg Gianforte for body-slamming a reporter?

Greg Gianforte, candidate for Montana’s US House of Representatives seat, had assaulted a reporter from The Guardian. The reported had asked about his healthcare policy at his campaign headquarters on the eve of the election. Gianforte then body slammed the reporter to the ground, which was caught on audio recording.

Gianforte later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault. He was sentenced to 40 hours of community service, 20 hours of anger management and a $300 fine along with a $85 court fee.

At a subsequent rally, Trump praised Gianforte, describing him as “my kind of guy.”

ABC News – Trump: No regrets for praising Greg Gianforte for body-slamming reporter
CNN – pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault Monday morning.
The Guardian – Greg Gianforte misled police after assault of Guardian journalist, incident report shows

said it was “too inconvenient” to use a secure phone?

There have been multiple reports on how Trump communicates via unsecured lines, especially among his inner circle, because using secure methods is too great an inconvenience. Intelligence analysts believe Russia or other foreign powers could use these conversations against both America’s foreign policy and Trump individually, and have detected signs of such spying.

Particular concern has been raised about the Kremlin listening in on conversations between Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani regarding communications to the Ukrainian President over military aid for defense from Russia. White House officials have stated that Trump makes such calls regularly.

Politico – ‘Too inconvenient’: Trump goes rogue on phone security
The New York Times – When Trump Phones Friends, the Chinese and the Russians Listen and Learn
The Washington Post – Signs of sophisticated cellphone spying found near White House, U.S. officials say
Independent – Trump ‘routinely’ made sensitive calls on lines open to Russian surveillance, White House officials say
The Washington Post – Phone logs in impeachment report renew concern about security of Trump communications

saluted a North Korean military officer?

The salute came during a historic 2018 summit between Trump and Kim Jong-un held in Singapore.

The North Korean officer saluted Trump and offered his hand for a shake. Trump returned the salute before shaking hands.

The scene was circulated by North Korean state media. The subsequent photo appeared especially egregious, as it implied that Trump’s salute was unprompted.

Image result for trump salutes korean officer

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in Trump’s defense,

It’s a common courtesy when a military official from another government salutes that you return that.

Trump said of the historic meeting that he didn’t need preparation or notes, due to it being all about “attitude” and his having “one of the greatest memories.” He also asked the press to ensure that he and Kim looked “nice and thin and perfect.”

The Hill – North Korea state TV airs footage of Trump saluting North Korean military officer
Business Insider – Vladimir Putin refused a salute from a North Korean general, which Trump controversially accepted
Politico – Trump faces backlash after saluting North Korean general
The New York Times – White House Defends Trump’s Salute to a North Korean Military Officer
NBC News – North Korean state media footage shows Trump saluting NK general

said windmills cause cancer?

In an April 3, 2019 speech to the National Republican Congressional Committee, Trump said, “If you have a windmill anywhere near your house, congratulations, your house just went down 75 percent in value. And they say the noise causes cancer.” He didn’t elaborate on who “they” are or offer evidence.

His speech came the same day he repeatedly mispronounced the word “origins.”

Trump repeatedly tried to fight the construction of wind farms, especially near his properties, which in one instance left him as the target of laughter by Scottish parliament. He also referred to climate change as a “Chinese hoax.”

The Hill – Trump claims wind turbine ‘noise causes cancer’
Independent – Trump repeatedly fails in attempt to say ‘origins’ then claims noise from wind farms causes cancer

said the Mueller report exonerated him when it explicitly said otherwise?

Trump has since made the claim multiple times on Twitter, during interviews, and at rallies.

The Mueller Report specifically said that Trump was not exonerated from the claimed crimes.

Robert Mueller has since explicitly denied that his report exonerated the President of obstructing the Special Council investigation. This was reiterated in front of Congress.

NBC News – Mueller says his report does not exonerate President Trump
Forbes – Trump Puts Exoneration In All Caps — Almost As If He Were Exonerated

tweeted that his attorney general should stop the Mueller investigation?

Trump’s attorney general, Jeff Sessions, had recused himself from the investigation into Russian election interference, which developed into the Special Council after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey. Trump’s tweet that “Jeff Sessions should stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now” was immediately called an example of attempting to obstruct the Special Council’s investigation.

New York Times – Trump Tells Sessions to ‘Stop This Rigged Witch Hunt Right Now’

fist-bumped authoritarian Turkish leader Erdogan, saying that he “does things the right way”?

At a 2018 NATO conference while discussing with other heads of state the processes by which they would need to raise more money for the mutual defense pact, Trump reportedly praised Turkish leader Erdogan.

Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group and a CBS News senior global affairs contributor, described what he witnessed backstage at the conference:

Trump was very frustrated; he wasn’t getting commitments from other leaders to spend more. Many of them said, ‘Well, we have to ask our parliaments. We have a process; we can’t just tell you we’re going to spend more, we have a legal process.’

 

Trump turns around to the Turkish president, Recep Erdogan, and says, ‘Except for Erdogan over here. He does things the right way,’ and then actually fist-bumps the Turkish president.

Erdogan has censored the press and social media, engaged in purges against opposition, and jailed Turkish citizens for voicing dissent.

CBS News – Trump fist-bumped Turkish leader Erdogan, said he “does things the right way”
Eurasia Group – With flattery and a fist-bump, Trump endorses strongmen like never before
Wikipedia – Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Authoritarianism

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