London: Attack Shows Trump CAN Get Even Worse!

Just when you thought Donald Trump had taken public life as low as he could, the US President has used the London Bridge attack to show that he can indeed find new depths for behaviour in public life.

First Trump re-tweeted a news item on the attack from the sensationalist Drudge Report, prompting NBC News to say it could not repeat the tweet because the President was relying on a source which did not meet NBC’s own ethical standards for ensuring that the TV network did not attach its name to inaccurate statements.

“We aren’t relaying president’s retweet, as the info is unconfirmed,” NBC said.

Then Trump used the attacks, which have so far claimed the lives of seven victims and three murderers, to seek support for his own plan for blocking millions of Muslims from entering the US, a plan which has been deemed unconstitutional by US courts.

“We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!” he tweeted.

After thousands of voters and dozens of Congressmen responded on social media by accusing Trump of exploiting a tragedy for political gain Trump decided to use the incident to have a crack at London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

A Muslim and one of the most prominent international critics of Trump’s “Muslim ban”, Khan had urged Londoners to stay calm, assuring them that Scotland yard had the situation under control and that they should be vigilant but not alarmed.

“At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is ‘no reason to be alarmed!’,” the President tweeted.

Labour MP David Lammy quickly issued his own Twitter response to the President.

“Stop commenting on what has happened in my city. Put your phone down.”

After some reflection Lammy, who spent five years as a minister in the Blair and Brown governments, upped the ante with a second Tweet that pulled no punches about Trump.

“Cheap nasty & unbecoming of a national leader. Sort of thing that makes me want to quit politics on a day like this. Evil everywhere we look.”

A little while later ABC News in the US quoted White House officials as saying that Trump was considering visiting London in the coming week to show his solidarity, prompting another Twitter retort from Lammy, a fierce opponent of Theresa May’s offer to Trump of a state visit.

“No,” Lammy tweeted. “We have suffered enough. Londoners do not want him darkening our door. Cancel the state visit.”

The top US diplomat in London later gave a classy demonstration of precisely the sort of tone that the White House should have struck about the London attack.

Lew Lukens, the acting ambassador, used the US Embassy’s official twitter feed to express sympathy and support with plenty of grace and an explicit show of respect for the Mayor of London’s efforts.

“It is with a heavy heart I offer my condolences and support to the people of the UK. America grieves with you. The response from emergency services, law enforcement & officials in London –as well as ordinary Londoners– has been extraordinary. I commend the strong leadership of the @MayorofLondon as he leads the city forward after this heinous attack. – LLukens.”

 

by Peter Wilson

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