Trump's short Black History Month speech was mostly about himself
It took President Donald Trump just three paragraphs before he began to talk about himself in the opening speech of a meeting held on Wednesday morning to honor Black History Month.
The president briefly mentioned Martin Luther King Jr., then pivoted to talk about how news coverage of himself is bad and he does not like it.
"Last month we celebrated the life of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., an incredible example, unique in American history," Trump said. "You read all about Dr. Martin Luther King a week ago when somebody said I took the statue out of my office. And it turned out that that was fake news. Fake news."
A Time reporter is the "somebody" Trump's referring to, though the president didn't say that the reporter quickly apologized for the mistake. Trump and his team have continually brought this up as an example of how they believe media outlets won't fairly cover their administration.
"I am very proud now that we have a museum at the National Mall where people can learn about Reverend King, so many other things," Trump said. "Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody who has done an amazing job, and is being recognized more and more, I notice. Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, millions more black Americans who made America what it is today."
He went on to thank a supporter seated at the table for "defending me on television," called CNN "fake news," and thanked Fox News for treating him "very nice."
More than a few folks were appalled at the president's speech, especially since it was given amid a committee confirmation vote for Attorney General Nominee Jeff Sessions, who has a consistently poor record when it comes to the expansion of voting rights.
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Speaking of honoring things: Last month, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Trump canceled initial plans to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Topics Donald Trump
Colin is Mashable's US & World Reporter. He previously interned at Foreign Policy magazine and The American Prospect. Colin is a graduate from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. When he's not at Mashable, you can most likely find him eating or playing some kind of sport.
