Brit Hume hit the media this morning for focusing more on what Trump says that what he does, as if what he says is more important:
POTUS claims of absolute power in Covid 19 emergency are constitutional nonsense, another of his serial exaggerations. The reaction to them are another case of media’s insistent focus on the stuff he says, as if that is more important than what he actually does. (cont’d)
— Brit Hume (@brithume) April 14, 2020
He constantly blusters and threatens all sorts of things, most of which never come to pass. In this instance, he is claiming supreme executive authority, but there is no sign he will try to exercise it. Indeed, he actions so far have been highly deferential to governors & mayors.
— Brit Hume (@brithume) April 14, 2020
Hume first acknowledges what most are saying, that Trump’s “claims of absolute power in Covid 19 emergency are constitutional nonsense, another of his serial exaggerations.” But then he hits the media for their “insistent focus on the stuff he says, as if that is more important than what he actually does.”
Hume rightly points out that Trump’s actions have been “highly deferential” to governors and mayors, which is what I was alluding to this morning. Regardless of the exaggerations Trump makes, whether it is the suggestion that the FCC should revoke licenses of media companies based on their content or his suggestion that he has total authority over states during this pandemic, Trump has always governed constitutionally. In fact I like that Hume notes that “there is no sign [Trump] will try to exercise” the ‘total’ authority he claims to hold over the states.
I do so wish Trump wouldn’t say things like this because it does create controversy, and I honestly can’t blame it all on the media. But at the end of the day Trump seems to always govern in a way that is deferential to the Constitution and that’s more than I can say for other presidents. 👀