Donald Trump’s “big” problem
Stochastic terrorist, murderer, rapist, traitor, grifter. These strong words are all labels that have been pinned to Donald Trump, based on either documented or very credibly alleged actions. Trump has also earned labels for other less alarming yet sordid behavior that doesn’t get much as much press coverage. One of those labels is body-shamer, and Trump just reminded us why he merits it.
Recently, Chris Christie committed what Trump considers a cardinal sin: Christie criticized Trump. While discussing the FBI’s execution of a duly authorized search warrant of Mar-a-Lago on ABC News, Christie didn’t take Trump’s side. Instead, he said the Department of Justice probably had “no choice” because of Trump’s actions, and he urged people to “take a step back” to think about it.
Rather than attack Christie’s words or motive, Trump decided to make fun of Christie’s appearance. On Truth Social, Trump posted a photo of a large unidentified man helping himself at a buffet, adding the caption: “Chris Christie at a Roy Rogers at 11PM in the evening trying to console himself.” The last I checked, the post had nearly 24,000 likes, revealing the extent to which Trump’s followers will excitedly hop aboard his body-shaming bandwagon.
Trump’s shameful mockery of Christie based on his looks is just the latest example of his habitual body-shaming. Trump has engaged in body-shaming out of scorn before, such as when, in a trade policy meeting with House Republicans in March 2019, Trump enjoyed using “Fat Jerry” to refer to House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler who was pressing forward with investigations into him.
Trump’s body-shaming isn’t limited to angry ad hominem attacks against political enemies, however. Trump also body-shames for amusement. For example, Trump has delighted in calling Secret Service Director Randolph “Tex” Alles by the name “Dumbo” because of his large ears, according to a report from The New York Times. Before the 2016 election, Trump defended himself on Fox & Friends for having repeatedly called former Miss Universe winner Alicia Machado “Miss Piggy,” pointing out that “you know, she gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem.”
Body-shaming might pale in comparison with many of Trump’s other crimes and misdeeds, but we mustn’t forget that this is also one disturbing part of who this cretin is. No matter what Trump or anyone else might think of Machado, Alles, Nadler, Christie, and the likely many other victims, body-shaming is never justified. Don’t expect Trump to stop anytime soon.
Ron Leshnower is a lawyer and the author of several books, including President Trump’s Month