The Trump rally in Phoenix once again sounded like it was on the campaign trail in 2016, but with a far more sinister edge than before. The President once again called out the media over and over again, sometimes refusing to move on, all the while basking in chants to “build that wall” and “lock her up.” Less than 24 hours after a relatively measured speech that went back on his years of promises to get the troops out of Afghanistan, Trump repeated himself and truly embraced his reality TV star self for the first time in a long time.
A brief recap of President Trump's rally tonight. He… pic.twitter.com/zAktVSVwMR
— Sara Murray (@SaraMurray) August 23, 2017
Trump continued to say nonsensical things, like lying about CNN closing up shop in order to protect themselves from Trump’s ire, all while egging the crowd on to shout his catchphrases like he was a WWE Hall of Famer or something (he is):
https://twitter.com/DianneG/status/900186626277748736
He also brought up his incendiary remarks (and non-remarks) about Charlottesville, which was instantly refuted for omitting key details he said at the time:
Trump purposely ommits his "on many sides" comments while recounting his Charlottesville response at #phoenixrally pic.twitter.com/e7pGUcg8G0
— CAP Action (@CAPAction) August 23, 2017
Trump can't even remember Heather Heyer's full name. https://t.co/6O1vn0BDo8
— Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) August 23, 2017
This did provide an interesting and fun aside for some to make fun of, a silver lining of sorts found in the odd way the president pronounces “antifa”:
Trump: "Antifa!!" pic.twitter.com/5m7gbjQHum
— Brandon Wall (@Walldo) August 23, 2017
— Chris Stephens (@ChrisStephensMD) August 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/RosieGray/status/900183511742722048
Trump continued to go back to his campaign promises to “drain the swamp” despite the fact that he’s filled his cabinet full of Goldman Sachs executives. He also said that no president has done more than he has in the time he’s been in office, saying he’s created many jobs and respected by Kim Jong-un after his “tough talk” against the dictator.
He also said that he ended the “war on beautiful clean coal” and a new coal mine had opened where they will get coal and then clean it. It was very confusing, like listening to your great uncle talk politics at the Thanksgiving table.
https://twitter.com/sweet_communist/status/900194842235604992
#PhoenixRally washing coal like pic.twitter.com/dpvcxx2xcS
— Trev (@moretrev) August 23, 2017
— Chris Stephens (@ChrisStephensMD) August 23, 2017
Needless to say, most people were blown away by Trump’s unhinged rants about taking down Teddy Roosevelt statues and wage increases. He also seemed to win back some of the folks he likely should’ve lost in the aftermath of Charlottesville:
https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/900212094972440576
One thing that is certain is that there are no shortage of reactions right now and there will be no short in the days to come. Many are getting tired of asking what’s next:
https://twitter.com/skilledscribe/status/900194835080105986
No mention of dead naval service members whose bodies were pulled from the water today. No moment of silence. NOT a president. #PhoenixRally
— Gaby Dow 🇺🇸✨ (@GabrielaDow) August 23, 2017
"He painted himself as a victim; the only victim in Charlottesville was Heather Heyer. He barely mentioned her," Don Lemon #PhoenixRally
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) August 23, 2017
"I went to a better school than them. I live in a bigger, more beautiful apartment than they do." – The President#PhoenixRally pic.twitter.com/w7Vsd9bmXY
— ᴀʟʏꜱꜱᴀ 🇹🇹 (@AlyssaSaidBye) August 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/justinhendrix/status/900186214640300033
Once again, @realDonaldTrump: A strong press is essential to our democracy. This demonization of the free press is dangerous. #PhoenixRally
— ACLU (@ACLU) August 23, 2017
Live footage of General John Kelly during @realDonaldTrump's #PhoenixRally. pic.twitter.com/cIj4KdUUXf
— Matt Grossman (@MGrossman92) August 23, 2017
WTF IS HE TALKING ABOUT NOW? #PhoenixRally
— mrs.smith (@freethinkma) August 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/JamesDerk/status/900194826594988032
https://twitter.com/timhamilton47/status/900194605668458497
#PhoenixRally where have all these clean coal mines been all these years?!?!
— Monkey 74 🐵 (@Mnky74) August 23, 2017
He is falling apart in front of our eyes and the whole world is watching for free #PhoenixRally pic.twitter.com/4KwH9PCwYH
— ✨✨Jen✨✨ (@jrt80) August 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/ferny3313/status/900194565239447552
Candid video of General Kelly during this rally. #PhoenixRally pic.twitter.com/qW8mSHJniD
— Miles W 🇺🇦 (@Mwilburn123) August 23, 2017
This is the longest SNL cold open ever. #PhoenixRally
— Randy Rainbow (@RandyRainbow) August 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/justinhendrix/status/900191050773516295
https://twitter.com/bax_books/status/900217188711362561
Tonight felt like a strange improv sketch. Hearing everything Trump said at the #TrumpRallyPhoenix truly shocks me. A true propaganda rally.
— EJ Moreno (@EJKhryst) August 23, 2017
Trump doesnt just criticize media more than he criticizes neo-Nazis – he criticizes them more than radical Islamic terrorists. #PhoenixRally
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) August 23, 2017
"They make up sources" says guy who once claimed to have a confidential source that *proved* Obama was born abroad. #PhoenixRally
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) August 23, 2017
He literally cannot go one speech without mentioning:
✔Barack Obama
✔Hillary Clinton
✔2016 Election#PhoenixRally #ArizonaTrumpRally— N I C O L E (@AttorneyNicole) August 23, 2017
Wait… @POTUS just broke out a list to "Show how 'damned dishonest' the media is."
Uh-oh.#ArizonaTrumpRally— Stacy Washington (@StacyOnTheRight) August 23, 2017
We don't know what that was at the #PhoenixRally tonight, but it was not a man who is well or stable enough to command our military.
— VoteVets (@votevets) August 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/seankent/status/900210310505746433