“100%.” That’s Spicer talk for “hey you guys, I really mean it this time!” He didn’t say “we think he wants the gig” or “we’ll get back to you on that.” He was firm. He made it clear that there was no reason to question this anymore. He was also incorrect. Philip Bilden, the Trump nominee in question, ultimately declined the position.
Let’s call the 0 for 1.
In another twitter instance (twinstance?) Spicer responds twice to this Associated Press tweet: “Memo obtained by AP shows Trump considering mobilizing the National Guard to round up unauthorized immigrants.” His first response: “This is not true. DHS also confirms it is 100% false.” The second reads: “Not true. 100% false.”
0 for 2.
This memo was 100% real. It had been considered. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) it was simply rejected early on. That means there was room for Spicer to clarify that it was no longer being considered. By claiming the story to be “100% false,” he makes it seem like the whole thing was completely fabricated.
We all know the story of the boy who cried wolf. We all know the moral. This leaves us with a little problem. Here’s one more Spicy tweet to consider: “we will stand with our ally Japan 100%.”
Is that 100% like the DHS memo—only sort of true? Or is it 100% like Bilden’s commitment to the SecNav position—completely false. In other words, will this turn out to be 0 for 3?
This isn’t supposed to be some conspiracy-theory proof that Trump has it in for Japan. The point is that the words of this administration are quickly becoming hollow. When the White House speaks, people are listening across the U.S. and around the globe. There will be secrets and exaggerations from every White House but there is a balance to maintain. Maybe a message from the White House was never guaranteed to be 100% true. Still, if the Trump administration doesn’t change soon, the fair assumption will be that their words are 100% false.
