Not surprisingly, the White House briefing got entirely hijacked Thursday by Donald Trump's grossly indefensible sexist tweets about MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski. And for a second time deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders went to bat for Trump's misogyny, saying that tweets like these are exactly how Trump demonstrates the dignity of the office of the president of the United States of America “every day.” Here's one exchange:
Reporter: A couple of the criticisms from supporters of the president have been that this particular tweet was beneath dignity of the office. Where does the president draw that line on the dignity of the office?
Huckabee Sanders: Look, I think that he shows that every day in the decisions that he's making—the focus and the priorities he's laid out in his agenda, but he’s not going to sit back and be attacked by the liberal media, Hollywood elites, and when they hit him, he's going to hit back.
Amazing. Huckabee Sanders is arguing that these tweets are exactly how he “shows” the dignity of the office. In other words, there’s nothing to defend: This is Trump’s expression of dignity.
Of course, dignity has no meaning to this White House.
Now, isn’t that spiritually inspiring. Just ignore the president of the United States, kids, and the fact that I’m selling my soul to defend him. God is the perfect role model, even though I’m defiling his son’s teachings. (Note: Huckabee Sanders could have resigned today and she didn't.)
Back on Capitol Hill, Democrats condemned the tweets and even Republican lawmakers couldn’t stomach defending them, which means the White House and surrogates like Trump’s sons and Melania became the sole defenders of Trump’s unconscionable behavior.
It’s at once another unsurprising and unbelievable day in the United States under Trump’s leadership.
You can watch both the White House and Capitol Hill clips below.
WH on whether Trump’s tweets are beneath the dignity of the office?
And lawmakers weigh in:
UPDATE: Adding these tweets late from @RealPressSecBot because I think they add a little perspective...
