# Trump's first press conference as president-elect **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 11, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878 "2017-01-11T17:33:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/21 "2017-01-11T21:12:43Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > [Transcript of entire conference](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/11/us/politics/trump-press-conference-transcript.html?_r=0) for those who want to know what was said but have no interest in watching the old bag bloviate on video. Yet again, the orange muppet elect, leaves zero doubt that he’s not fit to shovel shit from one place to another. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/22 "2017-01-11T21:17:56Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > "So, in order to get the wall started, Mexico will pay for the wall, but it will be reimbursed. " What the hell? > Mexico will be reimbursed? No, that’s just clumsy Trumpspeak. From context, and [other sources](http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/11/politics/trump-border-wall-mexico-payment-presser/), it is clear that what Trump meant is that the US is going to go ahead immediately with work on the border wall, using US tax dollars to pay for it, but the cost will somehow someday in some unspecified way be “reimbursed” by Mexico. Mexico has consistently contradicted all such expectations, and all the actual mechanisms that Trump has proposed so far for obtaining such “reimbursement” appear inadequate and impractical. But as long as he can convince his supporters that Mexico is paying for the wall so he gets cheered for it, I imagine that’s all he cares about. > [@](#): > > Despite Trump’s promises, Mexican leaders have steadfastly maintained that their country won’t provide funding for a border wall. And Trump’s options for coercing payment from Mexico are limited and disruptive – increasing border crossing fees and slashing aid would do little to cover the cost, and seizing remittance payments and imposing an import tax would have serious macroeconomic consequences. I nominate _“We’ll get Mexico to pay for it”_ as a general shorthand expression for any project with uncertain or inadequate financial support. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/23 "2017-01-11T21:29:06Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > No, that’s just clumsy Trumpspeak. From context, and [other sources](http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/11/politics/trump-border-wall-mexico-payment-presser/), it is clear that what Trump meant is that the US is going to go ahead immediately with work on the border wall, using US tax dollars to pay for it, but the cost will somehow someday in some unspecified way be “reimbursed” by Mexico. It’s not clumsy, it’s calculated. Because of course the only way to build the wall per his timeline is for it to come from US tax dollars. But he also, of course, can never actually be caught on camera saying so, thus contradicting one of his major platform positions. So he uses the words “reimburse” and “Mexico” while steering clear of “our money” which is what it actually is. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/24 "2017-01-11T21:40:26Z")
After refusing CNN a question because they’re “fake news”, he picked Breitbart for the next question. Who then asked essentially “given that the media is a pile of shit, how do you suggest we reform ourselves?” So Trump just flat out ignores one of the major news sources, picks a kooky one, and then has an (obviously pre-planned) chance to voice himself about how he wants the media to behave. We’re going to see a ridiculous relationship with the press - Trump is going to go after them with lawyers, legal restrictions, 3am tweets, denying access - it won’t be long until press conferences are just some Breittbart guys teeing up question Trump wanted… and Trump will still ramble his way through them. My only hope is that from this we get an actual adversarial investigative press that we haven’t seen for decades. The press has gone so soft on anything any government has said (and it’s not liberal bias - it’s a bias towards accepting whatever bullshit politicians feed them without digging deeper) that they might as well be an arm of state media. Trump is going to fight them with every tool he has at his disposal - I hope for once in their lives they actually fight back. ---
**Author:** ![Donald\_Rump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Donald\_Rump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donald_Rump)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/25 "2017-01-11T21:52:29Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > We’re going to see a ridiculous relationship with the press - Trump is going to go after them with lawyers, legal restrictions, 3am tweets, denying access - it won’t be long until press conferences are just some Breittbart guys teeing up question Trump wanted… and Trump will still ramble his way through them. This is why serious media outlets need to boycott these press conferences altogether. It’s clear Trump is going to reduce these events to a media-bashing performance strictly for the consumption of his [base](https://twitter.com/Truth_Bombers/status/819295222718930944). Media other than Trump propaganda outlets like Breitbart should proceed accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Krupe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Leo\_Krupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Krupe)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/26 "2017-01-11T22:09:49Z")
Trump makes W sound like Shakespeare in comparison. “We’re going to start building. Mexico in some form, and there are many different forms, will reimburse us and they will reimburse us for the cost of the wall.” vs “There’s an old saying in Tennessee—I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee—that says, fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can’t get fooled again.” On second thought, maybe they’re just both morons. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/27 "2017-01-11T22:18:27Z")
Did his election come about because-I don’t want to insult red necks-unintelligent, largely rural people who focus only on their own issues were willing to vote for him, or did that many voters hate Hillary Clinton? ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/28 "2017-01-11T22:22:34Z")
> [@MovieMogul](#): > > Joined half-way through but saw his habit of insulting-then-false-complimenting someone continued: in this case, Lindsay Graham, a member of his own party. … > [@CatandMouse](#): > > … Trump did make it clear today that journalists will be punished unless they’re willing to be his personal stenographer. Yes, about half the content of his rambling was How Wonderful Trump Is (he seems to be moving more and more to 3rd-person reference) and most of the rest of it was his promises to revenge himself upon anyone who failed or fails to support him. Lindsay Graham, the press, and of course those states whose electoral votes went to his opponent: > [@](#): > > And that was a beautiful scene on November 8th as those states started to pour in. > > And we focused very hard in those states and they really reciprocated. And those states are gonna have a lot of jobs and they’re gonna have a lot of security. So, he’ll be pulling the National Guard out of California, Minnesota, New Mexico etc.? What about New York? Will he be taking vengeance on New York? ---
**Author:** ![Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pearl_Clutching_Provocateur)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/29 "2017-01-11T22:27:58Z")
> [@Donald\_Rump](#): > > This is why serious media outlets need to boycott these press conferences altogether. It’s clear Trump is going to reduce these events to a media-bashing performance strictly for the consumption of his [base](https://twitter.com/Truth_Bombers/status/819295222718930944). Media other than Trump propaganda outlets like Breitbart should proceed accordingly. Why would they do that? Trump’s press conference was ten times more interesting than Obama’s farewell address. These press conferences are going to be must see tv pretty soon. I can’t wait to see a CNN reporter get tasered. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/30 "2017-01-11T22:30:24Z")
Why does the title “The Great and Powerful” come to mind all of a sudden? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/31 "2017-01-11T22:31:00Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > Why would they do that? Trump’s press conference was ten times more interesting than Obama’s farewell address. These press conferences are going to be must see tv pretty soon. I can’t wait to see a CNN reporter get tasered. For what? Asking a question? or does the Constitution go out the window after Piss-Boy is sworn in? ---
**Author:** ![Donald\_Rump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Donald\_Rump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donald_Rump)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/32 "2017-01-11T22:37:11Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > Why would they do that? Trump’s press conference was ten times more interesting than Obama’s farewell address. These press conferences are going to be must see tv pretty soon. I can’t wait to see a CNN reporter get tasered. Because if these are going to be mere propaganda events, let’s make it official and just have them be a couple sycophants from Breitbart lobbing one softball after another for Trump to whack out of the park. Today’s spectacle was pathetic, just Trump using earnest professionals trying to do their job as props for the Trump Show. No self-respecting journalist should participate in such a farce. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/33 "2017-01-11T22:44:00Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > Trump’s press conference was ten times more interesting than Obama’s farewell address. Yeah. In the same kind of way that a video of 300 pound guy dressed in nothing but a tutu and swim fins pouring maple syrup over himself and then farting Yankee Doodle Dandy is more interesting than _Citizen Kane_. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/34 "2017-01-11T22:48:57Z")
Interesting as in “Oh look, the dog’s eating his own feces again. How interesting.” ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/35 "2017-01-11T22:55:29Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Trump is going to fight them with every tool he has at his disposal - I hope for once in their lives they actually fight back. That’s a fight Trump can’t win. His Twitter account (which still runs the risk of being banned) versus the combined might of the media, who push out news and entertainment on TV, internet, and print? If they all black you out, nobody knows what you’re doing. If they only tear you apart, even if you’re doing awesome things, no one will know. If the press truly feels like their survival or influence is at stake, and solidarity forms among the major outlets, Trump doesn’t stand a chance. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/36 "2017-01-11T23:03:31Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > I really hope that [they](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/intelligence-chiefs-briefed-trump-and-obama-on-unconfirmed-claims-russia-has-compromising-information-on-president-elect/2017/01/10/9da3969e-d788-11e6-9a36-1d296534b31e_story.html?utm_term=.6f2d00122f62) have film of the rodeo clown getting butt-fucked by a herd of goats. Tell us how you really feel. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/37 "2017-01-11T23:04:57Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Yeah. In the same kind of way that **a video of 300 pound guy dressed in nothing but a tutu and swim fins pouring maple syrup over himself and then farting Yankee Doodle Dandy** is more interesting than _Citizen Kane_. (bolding mine) I looked and could not find a video of this anywhere online. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/38 "2017-01-11T23:05:22Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > (bolding mine) > > I looked and could not find a video of this anywhere online. :mad: He hasn’t been sworn in yet. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/39 "2017-01-11T23:23:13Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Did his election come about because-I don’t want to insult red necks-unintelligent, largely rural people who focus only on their own issues were willing to vote for him, or did that many voters hate Hillary Clinton? A lot of both. Racism, gay-bashing, sexism, and religious bigotry were a big part, and hatred of Clinton was part of that. Also, Benghazi and emails and crap were exaggerated into “dirty tricks” levels. (And finally the god damned director of the FBI threw the election Trump’s way by publicly announcing the resumption of the email investigation. Son of a bitch!) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878/40 "2017-01-11T23:25:46Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > the orange muppet elect Dude, don’t slander the Muppets like that. I’m having trouble thinking of any actual Muppet that I wouldn’t rather have as President than Donald. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-first-press-conference-as-president-elect/776878.md?page=3)