Calm Down, Sane Republicans Say, He's Only Joking - Above the Law

"Here's my question: How do we know when Trump's kidding? If a Trump supporter can tell me, at the time Trump speaks the words, that certain words are a joke, then that supporter might have a point. But the supporter can never do that. The supporter has to wait for weeks, or months, or for some unspecified future date to know whether Trump was kidding or not."

"In 2016, Trump said that he'd build a wall between the United States and Mexico. Sane Republicans said Trump was speaking metaphorically; he meant only that we'd be tougher on border enforcement. But then he built the thing! It wasn't a joke, I guess. Trump also said that Mexico would pay for the wall. But Mexico didn't! I guess he was kidding. What a stitch!"

"During the 2016 campaign, Trump said that Russia, if it was listening, should release Hillary Clinton's emails. Ha! What a riot! And then Russia did. Was that a joke? Trump said that only Ted Cruz's fraud had permitted Cruz to win the 2016 Iowa caucuses. The result of the caucuses, according to Trump, should have been nullified. Joke, or no?"

"Did you know which was the joke, and which was not? When did you decide - before or after construction began? Did Trump talk about immigrants from "shithole countries" during his first term? Trump denied speaking those words at the time. He now seemingly admits that it was true. Which was the joke? Trump said the he'd negotiate peace in Ukraine on his first day in office. Of course he was exaggerating. But was he joking? Did he believe he could negotiate peace in a few weeks? A few months? At any time during his second term?"

Trump’s statements are often treated as jokes by supporters, but supporters cannot identify which words are jokes when they are spoken. Determining whether a claim was humor requires waiting weeks or months for real-world results. Examples include the proposed U.S.-Mexico wall, where supporters claimed metaphorical intent and tougher enforcement, yet construction occurred and Mexico did not pay. Other claims include urging Russia to release Hillary Clinton’s emails, later followed by Russia’s actions, and assertions about election outcomes and nullification. Denials and later admissions about “shithole countries” and promises about negotiating Ukraine peace also raise uncertainty about whether statements were meant literally or as humor.

Read at Above the Law