Deputy White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders defended President Donald Trump’s sexist and crude tweets at the hosts of Morning Joe on Thursday afternoon, refuting critics who condemned his words as undignified.
Sanders made the remarks during a press briefing just hours after Trump went on a Twitter tirade where criticized Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, claiming the two hosts stayed at his Mar-a-Lago resort for three nights around New Year’s Eve—where, as the President claimed on Twitter—Brzezinski was “bleeding badly from a face-lift.”
When asked about the tweets on Thursday, Sanders went into a full-fledged defense of Trump, saying that he shows the dignity of the office “every day” and continuing her push that Trump reacted how he did because he’s a “fighter.”
“I think that the president has been attacked mercilessly on personal accounts by members on that program, and I think he has been very clear that when he gets attacked, he’s gonna hit back,” she said. “I think the American people elected somebody who is tough, who is smart and who is a fighter—and that’s Donald Trump. I don’t think it’s a surprise to anybody that he fights fire with fire.”
White House on Trump’s tweets: “He fights fire with fire.” https://t.co/lCeVhbbdBm https://t.co/PNJmRGdN9A
— CNN (@CNN) June 29, 2017
The president’s tweets caused a shock throughout the political and online world on Thursday, with many claiming Trump’s sexist tweet about Brzezinski echoed his comments about Megyn Kelly when he said “you could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her… wherever.”
It’s worth nothing that it’s clear Brzezinski was not “bleeding badly” during her visit to Mar-a-Lago.
For the record, this is a picture of @MorningMika at Mar-a-Lago at the time Trump is claiming she was "bleeding badly." pic.twitter.com/NJgioOD3Va
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 29, 2017
Americans are generally not thrilled with the way Trump continues to use Twitter as his personal megaphone and attack platform.
A poll released by Quinnipiac University found that 61 percent of Americans want Trump to stop using his personal Twitter account—and even 49 percent of Republicans feel that he should put down the phone when thoughts pop into his head.
While other members of the media pounced on Trump’s tweets as being too personal or deeply ironic considering First Lady Melania Trump’s idea to combat cyberbullying, lawmakers—including several Republicans—also condemned Trump’s latest attack on the media or pleaded with him to stop.
Stop it! The Presidential platform should be used for more than bringing people down.
— Sen. Lisa Murkowski (@lisamurkowski) June 29, 2017
Please just stop. This isn't normal and it's beneath the dignity of your office.
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) June 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/RepLynnJenkins/status/880433829856542721
This has to stop – we all have a job – 3 branches of gov’t and media. We don’t have to get along, but we must show respect and civility.
— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) June 29, 2017