If Americans can unite around anything, you’d think it would be a heroic dog.
But apparently, it can’t be Conan.
The internet’s favorite Belgian Malinois dog, and the very good boy who was injured while assisting the military’s mission to take out ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi last month, was honored Monday at the White House. President Trump appeared at a press conference to commend the military K-9 for his service in the Baghdadi raid, announcing, “The dog is incredible.”
We should all agree. Conan provided the bipartisan service of protecting our national security, so we should be able to celebrate this good dog without descending into political attacks.
He’s cute! He helped take down a terrorist! What more is there to say?
But wait, every photo op at the White House is a chance to own Trump if you try hard enough. Just look at how some people reacted to Conan’s big moment:
. @realDonaldTrump talked about what a dangerous and vicious dog Conan was while @VP simultaneously petted it and put his hand near his mouth. ¯_(ツ)_/¯ https://t.co/xCVOs9sXiV
— Kate Bennett (@KateBennett_DC) November 25, 2019
Conan is supposed to be dangerous when he’s working with the military on a mission, not when he’s trotting around town. If he were a vicious killer at all times, he’d be kicked out of the military for being uncontrollable and completely useless.
Watch how Trump continually keeps his distance from Conan the dog while Pence is perfectly comfortable next to him. pic.twitter.com/N8IJNGLj6r
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) November 25, 2019
Because Trump has something to fear from Conan, the dog known for sniffing out threats? Actually, Trump just isn’t a fan of dogs. Yes, this is a point against him. Just not the point that some opponents on Twitter were trying to make.
This is terrifying. Trump and Melania exude coldness to Conan the hero dog. Melania, whose coat is slightly macabre (to me, but others may find it lovely), moves away from Conan multiple times. 1/3 https://t.co/s9T3Y4ZYTn
— Joan Walsh (@joanwalsh) November 25, 2019
“Terrifying” is a bit of an overstatement, no?
Two children died in this raid – they’re giving a dog a certificate. https://t.co/rpGIPGn9AV
— Frankie Boyle (@frankieboyle) November 25, 2019
This has to be the worst of all takes. Scottish comedian and writer Frankie Boyle seems to think that Conan and the mission he was a part of are not worth celebrating. Let’s reiterate: The U.S. military killed the leader of ISIS. Baghdadi’s children died during the raid because, when the terrorist leader was cornered, he detonated a bomb, blowing up himself and his children. It’s awful that he would commit such an atrocious act, but his cowardice and callousness are not the result of the military K-9 unit nor Trump.
The internet has no shortage of bad takes on the ceremony honoring Conan. But the dog did his job, and the country should celebrate him instead of taking the opportunity to rewrite the situation just to make Trump look bad.
We can all unite around Conan, and those who can’t should give up. They’re barking up the wrong tree.
