The recent crazy-town town hall disgorged from the studios of CNN followed the same script as the Trump press availabilities of the 2016 campaign. Kaitlin Collins tried (I didn’t watch the show, I read excerpts) but failed to hold him to account. She got “bullied.” She was “run-over.” This is an old song I am tired of hearing.
Since 2016 I have dreamt of how an interviewer should manage Trump.
First, he should not be managed at all. No interviews, no town-halls. He is plutonium for the body politic and should be treated as such.
However, we live in an era of clicks and eyeballs. He will be interviewed again. Below is a suggestion for how it should be done.
Interviewer:
Good evening. Tonight, we have former president Trump sitting down with us for an interview. Mr. Trump thank you for taking the time to speak with us.
Trump:
That's President Trump.
Interviewer:
I'm glad you mentioned that Sir. I will be clearer. You are a former president who lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton. The circumstances of your election are suspect. Millions and millions of Americans feel that you won the election with the help of Russia, one of our sworn enemies and, according to Ronald Reagan, a major component of the axis of evil. Because of your collusion with Russia millions of Americans consider you to have been an illegitimate president but let's move on to some questions.
T:
You’re wrong.
I:
My first question is why do you lie so frequently to the American people?
T:
I don't lie. I tell the truth that they're not aware of about the Russia hoax the and the FBI spying on me and many, many other things.
I:
That is the answer I expected and this is a key point. Sir, you know that the Russia investigation was not a hoax because you asked for Russia's assistance during the campaign and you received it. You know that. So, you are lying again. The FBI was not spying on you. You know that.
T:
You are a nasty host. everything you are saying is a lie.
I:
No, Sir, you know that's not the case. You project when you accuse other people of being nasty. You who have been found guilty of sexual abuse are the nasty one. Let’s move on to our next question.
Why do you consider January 6th to be a beautiful day? People were killed. Police officers were beaten and some died later from their injuries. How is that beautiful?
T:
My people knew the election was stolen. They were just trying to save democracy.
I:
You're telling another lie. You know the election was not stolen.
T:
I got more votes than any candidate in any prior election.
I:
You did than in any prior election but you did not in the 2020 election. President Joe Biden got millions more votes than you did and you know that.
T:
You don't know what you're talking about.
I:
There you go again Sir. I do know what I'm talking about but you don't. It brings up the word that President Biden used in one of your debates; that you are stupid. I watched that debate and you seemed to be very upset when he used that word.
Trump talks over the interviewer. They both talk at the same time. After the interviewer regains the floor:
You have frequently been using the word stupid. It is widely known that you project your flaws onto others. My final question is: What happened in your childhood? How did your father or your mother abuse you to give you such severe and pathological insecurity about your own lack of intelligence?
T:
Do not call me stupid. Don't use that word.
I:
That is almost precisely what you said during the debate with President Biden. It's obvious that you are sensitive about being perceived as unintelligent. That seems to be your greatest insecurity. Your defense for that insecurity is to lie.
T:
That's it. I'm done. I'm out of here.
I:
Very good Sir. Thank you for coming in.
I:
And there we have it people. Mr. Trump continues to lie to you. He is pathologically sensitive about his poor education and lower than normal intelligence. As you can see he is a sad, little man who wields outsized influence due to his ability to appeal to the worst instincts of so many Americans.
Comment:
Interviewers must recognize and reject Trump’s modus operandi: deflect, don’t answer, get in the last word that is a lie.
The interviewer must not let Trump off the hook when he deflects. The interviewer must return to the question they asked at least once if not twice to drill home the reality that Trump is deflecting. Interviewers must stop letting him not answer questions and throw out more lies. When the interviewer moves to the next question they should state that Trump did not answer their question.
It is not that hard. Don’t play his game.