It wouldn’t be a Donald Trump speech without some incoherent rambling or meltdown – but many media outlets have been accused of ‘sane-washing’ his off-script rants.
The 78-year-old often completely ignores his telemprompter and starts going off on huge tangents, such as his ‘late, great Hannibal Lecter’ remarks.
However, one political commentator has noticed a growing trend of news anchors trying to support Trump’s rants immediately after they finish.
It’s been picked up by journalist Aaron Rupar, who has coined the phrase ‘sane-wash’ to describe how reporters and pundits try to explain the meaning behind Trump’s ramblings.
His latest gripe came with Fox News’ handling of Trump’s speech to the National Guard Association’s conference in Detroit on Monday – with host Martha MacCallum claiming he was “hitting three big themes consistently” – crime, the economy and immigration.
That analysis came despite Trump saying he wanted to create a ‘Space National Guard’, ‘fire’ everyone involved in the Afghanistan withdrawal ‘like The Apprentice’ and claiming the US has ‘no ammunition’.
Rupar tweeted: “Fox News also sane-washes Trump’s bonkers word salad.”
It’s not the first time he’s accused MacCallum of doing this, having pointed out the same thing happening after Trump’s North Carolina speech last week.
“Trump’s speech ends and Fox News host Martha MacCallum immediately springs into action trying to sane-wash it,” he wrote.
It’s not just Fox News facing the accusation, as Kristen Holmes of CNN has also been called out for ‘sane-washing’ Trump.
After his campaign event in Michigan last week, Holmes said Trump “was clearly trying to stay on message.”
Rupar tweeted: “CNN sane-washes an incoherent and unhinged Trump speech for the second straight day.”
On Monday, Trump addressed a group of National Guard officers and their families and other attendees of the 2024 National Guard Association of the United States General Conference & Exhibition in Detroit.
He claimed the US “has no ammunition” and that stockpiles were nearly depleted when he entered the White House.
Trump also suggested no one ever gets fired in the Biden administration and that “losers” he has booted out write books about him.
“We never fire anybody,” cried Trump. “You got to fire them like on The Apprentice.”
