Top conservative commentator Charlie Sykes tore into Donald Trump for ruining the Fourth of July by turning it into yet another one of his self-aggrandizing campaign rallies.
During a discussion with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, Sykes slammed Trump’s “tacky narcissism” and said his desire to make Independence Day about him is just another example of how needy and insecure he is.
“Donald Trump cannot resist making everything about himself,” Sykes said. “Yes, the symbolism is disturbing, but I think it’s just the obnoxiousness of politicizing and militarizing … one of our nicer, more unified national holidays.”
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Conservative commentator @SykesCharlie tears into Donald Trump for ruining the Fourth of July. #ctl #p2 pic.twitter.com/uhyqzoHKYA
— PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) July 3, 2019
Charlie Sykes said:
I’m also struck by just the tacky narcissism of it and how thoroughly annoying it is that the president of the United States needs to take over what was one of my favorite holidays where we celebrated being American. It was not a partisan event. It was not a political event. It was not about one man. And yet Donald Trump cannot resist making everything about himself. Yes, the symbolism is disturbing, but I think it’s just the obnoxiousness of politicizing and militarizing this really — one of our nicer, more unified national holidays. … This is like a Trump reelection kickoff. Here is a man who wants to make his campaign, his image all about patriotism. He is the guy that hugs the flag. He is the guy that wants all of the trappings of American might. Remember make America great again. But the way in which he was clearly influenced by his foreign dictator buddies is, I think, more of a sign of his neediness and his insecurity. And there is a certain silliness about this as well as obnoxiousness.
Trump is shredding another bipartisan norm
Trump’s obsession with turning the Fourth of July into another MAGA mob rally in our nation’s capital is just the latest example of this president shredding the norms to which all previous presidents have adhered.
There are some things that should transcend partisan politics, and Independence Day has always been one of them. But Trump is simply incapable of setting aside his ego – even for a day – and letting the American people unite in celebration of the values that make this country great.
Of course, the longer Donald Trump remains in the White House, the fewer values the American people have left to celebrate.
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Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.
