Victor Davis Hanson told Mike Rowe that Donald Trump’s comments about Rob Reiner after his death and John McCain, plus his insult of Doug Ford, made him cringe. He said a campaign gesture toward a reporter was ambiguous but could appear to mock someone with a disability.
Hanson said Trump’s remarks about Reiner angered him because Reiner had just died, invoking the saying that nothing should be said about the dead unless it is good. He acknowledged Reiner had been vicious toward Trump but said Trump should not have made the remarks. Hanson also questioned why Trump called Ford a “slob,” noting that Trump would have to deal with him.
Hanson linked the campaign gesture to movements he had seen in his daughter’s child, who has Smith-Magenis syndrome. He said his daughter was upset by it, though he could not determine what Trump intended. Hanson also objected to Trump’s comment, “I would prefer our people were not taken prisoner,” about John McCain. He said McCain had criticized Trump’s supporters as “crazies” the day before, but called Trump’s remark wrong. Hanson described Trump as transactional rather than vindictive.
