Donald Trump really thinks he has something here with his “Hillary Clinton doesn’t look presidential” line. ABC’s David Muir asked him about it:
Muir: Let me ask you. You’ve often talked about Hillary Clinton’s stamina. You even said she doesn’t look presidential.
Trump: I really do believe that.
Muir: But what do you mean by that?
Trump: Well, I just don’t think she has a presidential look and you need a presidential look. You have to get the job done. I think if she went to Mexico she would have had a total failure. We had a big success.
Such a short passage that demands so many responses. Who can see Trump talking about the need to look presidential and not cast a dubious glance at his hair and his skin color? That person is stronger than I.
But I think we can crack the code here: Hillary Clinton doesn’t look presidential because she’s a woman. A lady. A girl. A not-man when a man is the only one who can look presidential. And this is an argument Trump needs—that his maleness is in itself a qualification for the presidency. Heaven knows he doesn’t have much else.
Also, Mexico? Exactly what success did Donald Trump have in Mexico? The success where the press graded on a curve and gave him decent marks just for staying on script at his press conference with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto? Riiight. It’s not like Hillary Clinton ever stayed on script during a press conference with a world leader—or, you know, dozens of them—if that’s how we’re going to define success.
Whatever, though. She doesn’t look presidential. By definition, she can’t. She has the wrong parts, according to Donald Trump’s very strong implication.
Hillary Clinton would definitely look presidential being sworn in on inauguration day. Can you give $1 to help her get there?