CNN is officially moving into conspiracy territory when it comes to the “disappearance” of Melania Trump.
A rational observer might attribute this “disappearance” to Melania’s recent kidney surgery in mid-May. However, the pundits dominating our political discourse saw things differently. Faux-conservative David Frum speculated that perhaps Trump has been physically abusing Melania, putting her in the hospital. Some crazies replying to his tweet agreed. One woman claimed that Melania telling an audience at a rally that “Donald hits back hard” was a Freudian slip where she admitted her own abuse at his hands.
Some people actually believe this.
Suppose President Trump punched the First Lady in the White House (federal property = federal jurisdiction), then ordered the Secret Service to conceal the assault. POTUS has Article II authority over Secret Service. Is that obstruction? Under Sekulow/Dowd, apparently NO
— David Frum (@davidfrum) June 2, 2018
https://twitter.com/DianaMiller5/status/1003063360131387392
Of course, if any of that were remotely true, we’d already know about it. The doctors and nurses that treated the First Lady would’ve recognized the evidence of physical abuse and leaked it to the press. That would’ve been the biggest story of the year. No one leaked such information to the press (because it didn’t happen), but that doesn’t seem to matter to anyone. CNN’s Brian Stelter has also become a Melania-truther:
If any First Lady "disappeared," you'd "want to know where she is." Here's our @CNN discussion: https://t.co/qCLndJKRMp pic.twitter.com/eJ5KY0xTzu
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 3, 2018
"When a first lady disappears" from public view, @LynnSweet says, "reporters ARE going to raise questions. It's not hostile." https://t.co/HuAeWCDDEW
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 3, 2018
But instead of hosting a discussion on Melania’s alleged disappearance, he didn’t bother to doublecheck when she had been last seen. Even when it had been pointed out to Stelter that Melania has been seen on May 29th, he doubled down claiming to still be correct because she wasn’t publicly seen on May 29th.
Hey @BrianStelter — @CNBC’s Washington correspondent @EamonJavers — who I would call a Reliable Source — says he saw @FLOTUS in the West Wing on May 29th, yet the graphic you shared claims that she was last seen on May 10th. You are sharing Fake News right now. Delete your Tweet. pic.twitter.com/ZrStsbitDe
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) June 4, 2018
The segment was about the last time she was seen in public. Go ahead and imagine how you'd feel if a different First Lady wasn't seen in public for 3+ weeks.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 4, 2018
Does Stelter think anyone was really paying attention to how often Michelle Obama or Laura Bush were seen in public? Those details were among the last things on the nation’s mind.
I’m talking specifically about your Tweet, Brian, where you lie about the last time Melania was seen. Your graphic shares demonstrably false info & you know it. I have the receipts — just man up, take the loss, apologize for sharing something inaccurate, and delete your account.
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) June 4, 2018
"You'd want to know where she is" implies that her whereabouts are unknown, Brian. If two White House reporters saw her on May 29, her whereabouts are not unknown.
— neontaster (@neontaster) June 4, 2018
And speaking of being publicly seen:
NEW: @FLOTUS is expected to attend a Gold Star Families event tomorrow evening at the White House. Similar to the GSF reception she & @realDonaldTrump hosted last year. If Melania does indeed go, it will be her first official event since May 10th. Noted: event is closed press
— Kate Bennett (@KateBennett_DC) June 4, 2018
Baseless speculation has always been a large chunk of CNN’s broadcasting, so it’s no surprise they’re still cogitating about things that have been answered.
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