Regret is a normal part of human life. Healthy self reflection inevitably leads to the would have, could have should have reviews of prior words and deeds.
But not for President Donald Trump according to his responses to questions raised by CBS News correspondent Lesley Stahl in a wide ranging 60 Minutes interview with the President aired Sunday.
Stahl asked a question common for most world leaders. Presidents have been answering the question for as long as there have been those around to ask it.
Stahl asked:
"Is there anything that you wish you hadn’t said, anything you wish you hadn’t done? Do you have any regrets?"
Trump launched into an indictment of the press. Trump stated:
"So when I won the presidency, I thought—the press treats me terribly. I thought very strongly that, you know, the one great thing will happen is the press will start treating me great."
"Lesley, they treat me worse. They got worse instead of better. Very dishonest.”
Hoping to clarify her question, Stahl stated:
"Is this what you regret?"
To which Trump replied:
"I regret that the press treats me so badly."
Watch his response here.
STAHL: Do you have any regrets about anything over your first nearly 2 years in office? TRUMP: "I regret that the… https://t.co/b7woxHAxpZ— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1539561951.0
Trump heads an administration mired in a level of controversy not seen in recent memory. High level officials resigned amid scandals involving misuse of taxpayer funds, failed security clearances and investigations into misconduct.
Several members of Trump's campaign team plead guilty or faced indictment while his longtime fixer and personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, plead guilty to several charges that he claims were directed by the President.
Tell-all books by or in cooperation with former and current staffers made the bestsellers list.And a member of Trump's inner circle wrote an OpEd for The New York Times claiming to be a member of the resistance working against Trump.
People felt there were many other things Trump could and should regret about his first two years in office.
But see the President as incapable of self reflection based on his response.
@ddale8 He doesn’t understand regret, or the question he was asked— Julia Gulia (@Julia Gulia) 1539565632.0
@JuliaJGulia @ddale8 He’s a narcissist. They don’t have regrets.— Jodi Rankin (@Jodi Rankin) 1539575645.0
@ddale8 Textbook narcissistic response or what?— tallgrey (@tallgrey) 1539562018.0
@ddale8 Many people say his EQ is around zero.— Scott Monty (@Scott Monty) 1539562437.0
@ddale8 Classic abuser who blames those that he abuses for forcing him to do it.— Michele Maloof (@Michele Maloof) 1539572075.0
@michelemaloof @ddale8 Oh, yes. Emotional abusers are better at this "you made me do it" than physical abusers.. I think.— Middle Molly: If the Dems nominate a FRUIT FLY- (@Middle Molly: If the Dems nominate a FRUIT FLY-) 1539591264.0
@ddale8 Add the word REGRET to the tens of thousands of words whose meanings completely elude tRump. He arrogantly… https://t.co/nz9dTbiJs1— Michael R Garland (@Michael R Garland) 1539563994.0
@ddale8 https://t.co/xCiuUeV1HR— NOT exonerated and do NOT resuscitate (@NOT exonerated and do NOT resuscitate) 1539565890.0
@ddale8 @MalcolmNance He takes no responsibility for being wrong and never will.— Deirdre (@Deirdre) 1539590704.0
@ddale8 @grumpyoldman418 Apparently they don't teach English at that boarding school Fred sent @realDonaldTrump to.— Wayne LaPierre's $13k "Summer Intern" (@Wayne LaPierre's $13k "Summer Intern") 1539609484.0
@ddale8 @terriBwim Trump has taken self absorption to a whole new level.— Connie Lipnick (@Connie Lipnick) 1539601287.0
@ddale8 @revmagdalen This guy’s narcissism keeps expanding at an ever increasing rate. https://t.co/onakNmYWoZ— Nobody is illegal: no more dead migrant children (@Nobody is illegal: no more dead migrant children) 1539603214.0
Some found the response laughable.
@ddale8 I laughed out loud when he said it. But it's what Donald Trump does.— Joe Natiello (@Joe Natiello) 1539561538.0
@ddale8 Is 60 Minutes adding a laugh track? (Maybe just dub in the UN audience reaction?)— Terry the Censor (@Terry the Censor) 1539561495.0
@ddale8 @ChiefCovfefe https://t.co/JQsrtmBOhy— jillian blue 🎨 (@jillian blue 🎨) 1539568834.0
While others found a few things for Trump or themselves to regret.
@ddale8 I regret that the press doesn't treat him so badly.— Celly (@Celly) 1539561371.0
@ddale8 He needs a new makeup person.— Deby H (@Deby H) 1539561459.0
@ddale8 "I regret that the cops/laws/mirrors are out to get me."— Terry the Censor (@Terry the Censor) 1539561701.0
@ddale8 I regret that I wasn't voted in for prom queen— Alison R (@Alison R) 1539561677.0
@ddale8 I regret the cholesterol isn't working faster.— Lynne A 💙 (@Lynne A 💙) 1539562758.0
@ddale8 Not One Regret that he’s Orange?— Laurie Hunt (@Laurie Hunt) 1539570907.0
@polarisdals @ddale8 https://t.co/mlsmTRcPKM— Sk88queen (@Sk88queen) 1539561918.0
The president found little sympathy from the public over his issues with the press.
@ddale8 @MalcolmNance I’m glad I didn’t work for a network or national news outlet. If @realDonaldTrump told me h… https://t.co/AYqMWAoEf1— Times are gone for honest men (@Times are gone for honest men) 1539590858.0
@ddale8 He could fix that if he stopped treating more than 1/2 the country so badly.— D Villella ❄️ (@D Villella ❄️) 1539564253.0
@ddale8 @MpressT If Donald didn't want to be treated badly by the press, he shouldn't have started it. When someone… https://t.co/cXta0U0T2t— Debora Johnson (@Debora Johnson) 1539568869.0
@ddale8 Poor baby Trump. Why doesn't he just not talk to the big-bad press then? Because they're his O2. Without co… https://t.co/eZVqLZ8KcK— Christina Leimer (@Christina Leimer) 1539567532.0
@ddale8 Since he's always a victim I don't believe a word he says.— Gonja (@Gonja) 1539620464.0
@ddale8 @Maryc1850Sadler Narcissism at its best. It's all about how the press treats him. Nothing about what the at… https://t.co/teeZMg5CTK— Maj Sodone (@Maj Sodone) 1539627246.0
@ShamusMc1 @ddale8 A very easy way to get better press is to not be horrible.— John Zaremba (@John Zaremba) 1539567492.0
Given the widespread reaction to his latest 60 Minutes interview, the President may have something new to regret.