We Need To Talk About President Trump’s Super Controversial ‘President For Life’ Remarks

The internet is abuzzin’, because President Trump said something pretty controversial during some sort of fundraising event in Mar-a-Lago.

In the closed-door remarks, a recording of which was obtained by CNN, Trump also praised China’s President Xi Jinping for recently consolidating power and extending his potential tenure, musing he wouldn’t mind making such a maneuver himself.

“He’s now president for life. President for life. No, he’s great,” Trump said. “And look, he was able to do that. I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll have to give that a shot some day.”

However, this follow up is pretty important. Context is everything. What was the tone of the remarks? Did he say it in a sarcastic way? We’re missing a lot here. We’re relying on CNN to give us the proper interpretation.

The remarks, delivered inside the ballroom at his Mar-a-Lago estate during a lunch and fundraiser, were upbeat, lengthy, and peppered with jokes and laughter. But Trump’s words reflected his deeply felt resentment that his actions during the 2016 campaign remain under scrutiny while those of his former rival, Hillary Clinton, do not.

It sounds like the remarks were made in a lighthearted atmosphere. Note the key words– “upbeat,” “lengthy,” and “peppered with jokes and laughter.”

However, people are still mad and suggesting this is PROOF that he’s a legit dictator.

“President for life?”

READ THIS and let it sink in. There is no longer any speculation whether Trump fancies himself a dictator. Time to topple this tryant and secure our democracy!

https://t.co/Qc83T2XhaW

— Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) March 4, 2018

Imagine if Obama praised China’s President for claiming all the power and essentially becoming a dictator for life and saying it’s a good thing. How many patriotic Republicans would laugh and say, “Oh, that kidder, that Obama.”

— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) March 4, 2018

All of you Trumpsters bemoaning liberal “socialists” and championing the founding fathers who freed themselves from monarchic tyranny, Trump is suggesting he’d like to follow the model a communist Chinese autocrat who has made himself president for life.https://t.co/pG3ecPqiYO

— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) March 4, 2018

How can one hope to be “President for life” when you can’t even be President for a day?

— skot2uk3000 (@skot2uk3000) March 4, 2018

At private fundraiser, Trump “jokes” about attempting to become president for life https://t.co/ZlfXLQu8bE

— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) March 4, 2018

This is one of those stories where I will want to hear the audio. The tone matters… https://t.co/bG6rzxjzyF

— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) March 4, 2018

That’s what I’m saying! We’re in luck. You can hear the audio right here. It’s totally obvious he’s playing off the crowd and JOKING. It honestly sounds like a campaign rally joke. That’s exactly how he speaks to crowds at rallies.

Trump is not joking. FYI. https://t.co/TVgWmjgAdj

— deray (@deray) March 4, 2018

Yes he is. Listen to the audio.

Important note: Our constitution does not allow this. https://t.co/bBPsgfQqtl

— Sara Sidner (@sarasidnerCNN) March 4, 2018

It’s really cute how liberals suddenly care about the Constitution.

I’m all for remaining on high alert about all the ways Trump continues to pose an authoritarian threat, but this sounds like he’s joking. https://t.co/dU8FTZ4JE4

— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) March 4, 2018

THANK YOU.

That was obviously a joke. In addition to being #FakeNews, @CNN also has no humor https://t.co/mRpIedGcUx

— Obi_1_D_AllKnowing 🇺🇸 (@obiopiah) March 4, 2018

I have no doubt he was joking, but I will say this.

I know it sounds cliché, but George Washington is one of my all time favorite presidents, because he set the precedent. He could’ve easily retained power, but he peacefully and willingly gave it up. Imagine where we’d be now if he decided otherwise. Lifelong rulers– that was the norm. He could’ve easily established a monarchy, but he didn’t. He refused. That decision had a huge impact on the future of our country– one that I’m eternally grateful for.

So no. I don’t take those jokes lightly, but the fact remains that he WAS joking. CNN basically admitted it.

Trump says these things to get the #resistance going. He’s not serious AT ALL. I’m not the least bit concerned about his view of the presidency. I don’t believe he views himself as a dictator. I feel silly even having to SAY that. It’s not who he is. He just says stupid things that make us cringe sometimes.