It took just an hour for President Donald Trump to release a statement on the death of former television host Regis Philbin, and he made it about himself.
Philbin died at the age of 88 on Saturday of natural causes. But rather than memorialize Philbin, Trump used the opportunity to tie himself to him and make the statement more about himself than the man he dared to call a “friend.”
One of the greats in the history of television, Regis Philbin has passed on to even greater airwaves, at 88. He was a fantastic person, and my friend. He kept telling me to run for President. Holds the record for “most live television”, and he did it well. Regis, we love you….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2020
….And to Joy, his wonderful wife who he loved so much, my warmest condolences!!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2020
In contrast, it took Trump many hours to release a pathetic statement about Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.).
Of course, there’s no evidence that Philbin pushed Trump to run for office, although he seemed to support him. But that does not excuse Trump’s decision to make this statement about himself instead of solely about the person he referred to as his “friend.”
Twitter users bashed Trump’s narcissism.
way for our fragile and needy president to make someone’s death all about him. maybe he could say something about the 148,000+ deaths that ARE about him
— Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich) July 25, 2020
Only Trump could make Regis Philbin’s passing about him.
— Angela Belcamino (@AngelaBelcamino) July 25, 2020
“He (Regis) kept telling me to run for President.”
Did he really?
Even when expressing “condolences” Trump finds a way to weave in something about himself. His narcissism never takes a day off!
— MURRAY ? (@murray_nyc) July 25, 2020
I don’t remember Trump having guest appearances on Regis’ morning shows and I watched those shows regularly for many years. I think he’s lying again.
— Kal418 (@kankal418) July 26, 2020
He laughed at you behind your back, Donald. ???
We all did. Many times.— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) July 25, 2020
No normal person says “warm condolences.” Second: what a narcissist! Donald Trump turned it into Regis Philbin paying him a compliment. Pathetic.
Also, it took Trump about an hour to mention something about Regis, but 15 hours to say anything about John Lewis’s passing. pic.twitter.com/zXnVrmNRUL
— Russell Drew (@RussOnPolitics) July 25, 2020
Must you make everything about you?
— Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) July 25, 2020
Hopefully, we’ll have a new president starting in January who actually has compassion for others and doesn’t think the world revolves around him.
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