President Donald Trump literally used the death of former President George H. W. Bush to skip a press conference on Saturday in Argentina rather than answer questions from reporters.
Bush died on Friday at the age of 94, and Trump has already released statements on his passing. He had been scheduled to hold a press conference today prior to leaving the G-20, which would likely have included questions about his former lawyer and “fixer” Michael Cohen’s plea deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller, his refusal to punish Saudi Arabia for the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and not doing more to condemn Russia for attacking Ukrainian naval vessels.
Clearly, Trump saw Bush’s death as an excuse to avoid those questions entirely since international press conferences tend to be tougher for him, so he took to Twitter to make the announcement:
I was very much looking forward to having a press conference just prior to leaving Argentina because we have had such great success in our dealing with various countries and their leaders at the G20….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 1, 2018
….However, out of respect for the Bush Family and former President George H.W. Bush we will wait until after the funeral to have a press conference.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 1, 2018
Twitter responded by shaming Trump for being such a coward:
You know what would honor @GeorgeHWBush memory? Standing on the world stage and condemning MBS and Putin for their crimes against humanity.
— Whatev (@whatsgo1ng0n) December 1, 2018
Didn’t you go golfing right after one of the many mass shooting that have happened on your watch?
— Mom (@alpha5150) December 1, 2018
I was very much looking forward to talking about how great I am and how everyone treats me so badly, but Loser George Bush died and ruined it.
— Dogald J. Trump (@dogaldtrump) December 1, 2018
In deference to the Bush Family, you could also avoid Twitter until after the funeral…
— Cassie McCreary (@mediamontage) December 1, 2018
I bet you were actually relieved when you got the news that you could duck out of that (guaranteed disaster) press conference. You lack any semblance of moral fiber, which is also why nobody believes that you wrote this tweet. #ResignInDisgrace
— Ben Buehler (@sourcerolls) December 1, 2018
Not a bad excuse, but not a good excuse either. Another press conference dodged!
— David Bailey ?? (@heydavidbailey) December 1, 2018
So instead of a press conference, which you had no intention of exposing yourself to, deflect the blame and attention to the passing of an actual POTUS. True to form.
— Nicki Jack (@NickiJack5) December 1, 2018
Not out of respect but out of fear of the questions that you will be asked to answer.
— Sharon Ritenour (@SharonAlmalee) December 1, 2018
A press conference would be the perfect opportunity to express the nation’s sorrow over the passing of President Bush, then move on to the G20, since of course despite our loss the country must go on. But my handlers were afraid I’d say something really stupid so we cancelled.
— Steve0296 (@steve0296) December 1, 2018
Trump also avoided having to answer questions about being humiliated by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday during the signing ceremony for the new NAFTA, which Trump is desperately trying to rebrand as the USMCA, a moniker Trudeau refused to use.
His trip to the G-20 was an international embarrassment and a failure. And cowardly canceling a press conference by using the death of a former president as an excuse to not do his job is shameful. Trump did not cancel “out of respect” for Bush. He did so because he is scared of the press.
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