Donald Trump's short-term memory has let him down.
On January 12, he told reporters for Fox News that he hadn't left the White House in "months," despite the fact that he's traveled to Iraq, Germany, and the Mexican border. He also said this two days before leaving the White House for New Orleans to attend the American Farm Bureau Federation convention.
Donald Trump: "I haven't actually left the White House in months." https://t.co/j349IDPVNu— Contemptor (@Contemptor) 1547345833.0
Trump's baffling statement seems to be in response to the claim (again, his own) that Democrats are spending the federal government shutdown galavanting around on the taxpayer's dime.
Is Twitter falling for such a blatant and easily disproven lie? They are not.
@TheContemptor https://t.co/qBiFqjpdjf— Mina🌈 (@Mina🌈) 1547393039.0
@GOPChairwoman @realDonaldTrump Trump: “Democrats are out having fun while I'm sitting all alone in the White House… https://t.co/D67uOREbzK— David Simpson (@David Simpson) 1547469028.0
@TheContemptor for those not following along at the home: https://t.co/MNzUhPHYan— Matunos 💉💉 (@Matunos 💉💉) 1547349284.0
January 10 @nytimes headline reads: “Trump, Along the Border in Texas, Reiterates Demand for Wall.” January 12 Fox… https://t.co/KcTlgl7Sts— John Nichols (@John Nichols) 1547427187.0
@TheContemptor Months? As well as TX 3 days ago: In Nov he went to MO WV IN MT FL GA TN OH CA MS France & Argent… https://t.co/0s16Sug8Ay— Janet1867 (@Janet1867) 1547401412.0
It's hard to write off this latest claim as a gaffe or an oversight.
Is the president actually unable to accurately recall events that happened just weeks ago?
Or is he simply counting on the American people to accept whatever bizarre version of the truth he tells us?
What are we to make of his periodic denials of reality? of things he should easily remember? Is it long-term delusi… https://t.co/k2o28nEr9Q— Basil Isobar (@Basil Isobar) 1547387504.0
@realDonaldTrump “Haven’t left the White House in months”. Is your dementia is so bad that you’ve forgotten you tra… https://t.co/Cj8LqzM5yW— Deb Forrest (@Deb Forrest) 1547427758.0
Pick one: 1) Trump doesn’t remember leaving the White House because his faculties are impaired. 2) Trump only cou… https://t.co/FXgd9EgTEg— April (@April) 1547392816.0
Meanwhile, the President has been lampooning Democrats for "celebrating the shutdown" in Puerto Rico.
President Trump: "I've been here all weekend. A lot of the Democrats were in Puerto Rico celebrating something. I d… https://t.co/3FkmagKKol— CSPAN (@CSPAN) 1547480187.0
Though he and Fox News personalities have painted the trip as a vacation for Democrats, the 30 lawmakers are actually meeting with local officials to continue planning for Puerto Rico's recovery after it was ravaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017. The visit is the largest American delegation to ever visit the island, and it's hardly a mere celebration.
Maybe the president doesn't think it counts as leaving the White House unless he's on vacation.