This didn't get much attention on TV over the weekend, as far as I can tell. It did on social media, but that's not the same thing. But as far as I can tell, the phrase "didn't get much attention on TV" is a gross understatement -- because, as far as I can tell, it didn't get much of any mention of it on TV. Which is unacceptable, most especially for what it is. And what it is...is Trump giving a speech on Saturday night, and for some reason completely stopping for over half-a-minute. Just standing there. Saying nothing, doing next to nothing. Totally silent for more than 30 seconds. If this was President Biden, essentially "freezing" for half a minute, it would be the lead story and headlines. With Trump? It's taken as business as usual, that's Trump, weird, and so what he does is normalized. But there is nothing normal about standing for over 30 seconds in the middle of a speech, saying nothing. In fairness, I don't think he "froze" like Mitch McDonnell did several times, where he was seemed totally out of it, uncertain where he was, almost immobile. It almost looks more like Trump might have an earpiece, and he's waiting for someone to tell him what to do, but no one is telling him, and so he's lost and a bit bewildered, needing directions. Or that his TelePrompter wasn't working, and he didn't know what to do or say next. By the way, it might not be either of those things at all, indeed it very well might have been an "early dementia" moment. But it just doesn't look like that to me. However, that said, even if I'm right, being lost and bewildered and not knowing what to say or do and be silent for 30 seconds in a speech is pretty bad. Most especially for someone who wants to be leader of the United States, and the most powerful man in the world. And is trying to claim that it's the other guy who is weak and out of it and not up to the job. And that's the best interpretation of what happened. At best his TelePrompter froze, and for 32 seconds he didn't know what to do. The thing is -- did he not know what to do because he was flustered, like anyone might be, even someone who doesn't want to have control of nuclear bombs...or because he didn't have the cognitive ability to react quickly on his feet? And as I said, if it was President Biden, totally silent for over 30 seconds in the middle of one of his speeches, that would be the news of the day. With medical experts brought in all day to discuss what might have been going on. But with Trump? Nah, it's normalized. But no, it is not normal. Here's the video. No need to watch the whole thing, Start watching at around the 2:40 mark. Once the silence kicks in, it lasts for about 32 seconds. And then he picks up as if nothing happened, and that everything is normal. No, it is not normal. And there was almost no coverage of it on TV. Or perhaps none. Hopefully it will get the attention it deserves today. Though with the Manhattan trial back on, TV news might again totally focus on that and let this slip through the cracks. We'll see. But if it was President Biden, I am sure it would be (and would have already been) heavily reported on. Because -- it is not normal. (The video describes it as "a beautiful 2 minutes," but it's not. Still, 32 seconds is really bad.)
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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