Trump accidentally speaks his mind at Medal of Freedom presentation

[Demovictory9]

On the surface, this seemed like one of the least controversial parts of Donald Trump's week.

President Donald Trump on Thursday awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to basketball legend Jerry West.

At a White House ceremony, Trump praised West -- whose iconic dribble can be seen on the logo for the National Basketball Association -- as an "extraordinary American" for his achievements on and off the court, saying the nation's highest civilian honor was a "richly deserved" award.


So far, so good. It's tough for a president to screw up a Medal of Freedom presentation, since it generally involves saying nice things about a prominent American. Even for Trump, this should be a piece of cake.

But it wasn't. After welcoming people to the event, the president started reading Jerry West's biographical information, including the fact that he was born and raised in West Virginia. At that point, Trump strayed from his prepared remarks and turned to Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who was also in attendance.

"I shouldn't say this, Joe, but I won it by 43 points," Trump told the senator, referring to West Virginia. "That's a lot."

Turning back to Jerry West, the president added, "We love West Virginia. Probably helped you getting this award today."

Trump was almost certainly kidding, though the joke was rooted in the idea that if West had been born and raised in a blue state, he'd be less likely to receive the Medal of Freedom.

Even at an award ceremony intended to honor someone else, Trump's thoughts turned to Trump -- and how impressed he is with himself.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-accidentally-speaks-his-mind-medal-freedom-presentation/amp

[Laffy Kat]

1. Jebus, can't be get through one event w/o making it about himself?

[Demovictory9]

4. Nope

[pnwmom]

2. Except he wasn't kidding.

They showed him the list to approve, and he was happy to approve the name of a guy from W. Va.

[Demovictory9]

3. Yep

[greatauntoftriplets]

5. If he was giving some person's funeral speech, he'd make it about himself.

[Flaleftist]

6. He could tweet a selfie giving a thumbs up and stupid grin in front of an open casket.

And suddenly that would become normal and acceptable behavior for Trumpers.

[RockRaven]

7. HE DID THAT AT *HIS FATHER'S* FUNERAL. Seriously. There are articles about it.

President Toadstool is beyond parody. He is a walking, talking, stinking Onion/Borowitz Report article except uglier and less funny.

[no_hypocrisy]

8. Trump more or less took credit for his father's success in business.

It really was low.

[hatrack]

9. Well, he certainly took his father's money by the truckload . . . .

What a petty, pissy, spiteful little pustule.