One can sort of tell how one is doing in the campaign by the types of statements or cliches that latch on to a life of their own. Generally speaking, whatever cliche emerges will reflect how people see the candidate and person more generally. Given that people see Trump as one of the most selfish, arrogant, uncaring, narcissistic people to ever hold the office, it isn’t surprising that the phrase that is now clinging to Trump reflects it.

As Jonathan Swan pressed Trump on the fact that the United States has so many deaths per citizen, Trump said that, with respect to the deaths, “It is what it is.” As if that’s not something that ought to be talked about because it just “is” so go away.

Today a reporter finally cornered Trump on that statement and asked him what he had to say about it, and did he know how it sounded to other voters:

From Mediaite:

“What message does that send, though, to families…” the reporter began, before Trump launched into his response:

So the message that I have is very simple. Nobody can do what I’ve done in terms of all of the things that we’re doing to combat this horrible disease that never should have been sent to us, that was sent, it came from China, should never have been allowed to leave China, they could have easily done something, they stopped it from coming into China, but they didn’t stop it from coming into the U.S. and Europe and the rest of the world. And China should have done something about it. And frankly it’s a disgrace that they didn’t.

And he wonders why people believe he doesn’t care?

NO ONE cares where it came from. People will care, some day, in an after-action report, what steps were taken along the way to isolate it and notify the world, perhaps China will have a lot to answer for. For now, the only thing people care about is whether they will have their health, their income, and essentials on the shelves. That’s it. That’s the list. He managed to answer the question without answering the portion that people care about.

This phrase is going to stick around a lot longer, it appears. It is what it is, Trump.

WATCH:

President Trump on "it is what it is" quote: "The message that I have is very simple: nobody can do what I've done." pic.twitter.com/qdxdSNm3Wm

— The Hill (@thehill) August 6, 2020

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Peace, y’all