President Trump described MS-13 gang members as “animals,” and the ensuing controversy is revealing.
Trump took a barrage of criticism on Twitter and cable TV for using that word. Some of the attacks tried to blur whom Trump was calling animals, but others simply stated that one ought not call any humans “animals.” Few outside the Acela corridor would be rankled by Trump’s description of these gang members, though, which is why the White House on Monday morning very deliberately chose to elongate the controversy. Reporters opened their inboxes for the week to find an email under the subject line “What You Need To Know About The Violent Animals Of MS-13.”
Trump got attacked for harshly describing violent gang members, and that was helpful to him for a few reasons.
First, it makes the president look tough on criminals. Second, it keeps attention on the media’s initial screw-up (dissected by my colleague Becket Adams here), which substantiates Trump’s contention that reporters are in the habit of egregiously misrepresenting his words (“Fake News got it purposely wrong, as usual!” Trump tweeted last week). Finally, it makes him look like the reasonable party in his unending battle against the press, and confirms the stereotype of his critics as perpetual hysterics more interested in political correctness than security.
Nevertheless, the longer the media talks about Trump describing members of MS-13 as “animals,” the more the president benefits. Even voters outside his base who pay attention to this controversy might be more willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on the next one. It’s one of those Trump era dust-ups where the press proved him right, and he’s been strategic enough to capitalize on.
Even the president’s favorite sleepy-eyed Sunday show host sided with him this weekend. “You know, cover this legitimately. There is plenty of legitimate stuff to ding him on, if you think he deserves to be dinged on. Just be careful, don’t be sloppy about it,” Chuck Todd reacted, advising his peers in the media against similar missteps.
All things considered, this is also probably a good example of what ingratiates Trump to his base— not only is he often misrepresented, and does he bait the purveyors of political correctness, but he’s shrewd enough to exploit their missteps by fighting back.
