These days Donald Trump's press pool is just the MAGA faithful outlets, who lob him safe and loaded questions so he can toss out today's talking points, which all them have received earlier in the day. Today was no exception.
While yapping at Joint Base Andrews before boarding Air Force One for another day of lie-spreading, Trump was asked this nice loaded question about a medical professional who does not see patients but instead works on health policy for his state.
"Mr. President, what do you think of the fact that Abdul El-Sayed portrays himself as a medical doctor?", asked the young man with reddish hair and the stylish tiny microphone bloggers and Instagrammers like to use (maybe Breitbart 'reporter' Nick Gilbertson). "He's even appeared in a white coat, despite the fact that he never completed the qualifications after medical school to be a licensed doctor."
OH MY GAWD! He's appeared in a white coat, like lots of health professionals do!! Did anyone inform this young man that white coats are not awarded after doctors complete internships and residencies? Did anyone tell him that one can be a medical doctor and choose to be in the medical field in myriad ways and STILL WEAR A WHITE COAT? Apparently not.
And by the way, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed did earn his M.D. as an NIH-funded Medical Scientist Training Fellow and went on to Oxford to earn his D.Phil. Emphasis on the word "earn," a word this young man and his subject are still struggling to define.
The answer he got is solid proof Trump is parroting the talking points given to him to shore up his MAGA base, which is evaporating. It's also a non-sequitur, but MAGAs like those.
"Well, I think he's practicing illegally, from what I've been told. If he actually saw a patient, it would be illegal." Trump humphed, except El-Sayed is not practicing or seeing patients.
"So it's just like everything else," he continued. "He's a jihadist, and he should not be allowed to serve in our Senate."
I see what he did there. He used the magic J word to strike fear and loathing of the other into a conversation about medical qualifications.
Dr. El-Sayed has never said he wanted to or tried to see patients. Trump is terrified of him because he actually has the chops to do some significant work to bring universal healthcare to all. Even more terrifying than that, though, is the possibility he might lose the Senate and one of the reasons will be because El-Sayed wins Michigan's Senate seat over the odious liar Mike Rogers.
Beyond that, however, it is absolutely absurd for this major insurrectionist who went out and inspired thousands to try and overturn the 2020 election by stopping the certification to call ANYONE a jihadist. It is as if every accusation is a confession. Which it is.
At this point, all the Orange Clown can do is try and hang onto that 35% or so who are fascists. He sees the defections and knows the House is gone. Let's hope the Senate slips away from him too.
VOTE.
