WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald J. Trump raised eyebrows with his cabinet and adviser selections, that much can be said no matter which side of the aisle one finds oneself on.
Trump tapped Jeff Sessions as his Attorney General when Sessions was deemed too racist for a federal judgeship back in the 1980’s. He asked Steve Bannon, an executive for Breitbart News, which frequently publishes white nationalist and white supremacist news under the banner of the “alt-right” movement, to be his Chief Strategist. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is his U.N. ambassador despite having no experience in the State Department, and Dr. Ben Carson — a chief rival of his during the Republican primaries — is his Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Carson himself made quite a stir when he said on the very first day on the job that he viewed slaves as “immigrants” who had just had to work harder for less. At a press conference late Tuesday night, Trump gave some insight into his thinking process in inviting Carson into the role of HUD secretary, and offered his support for Carson, despite the comments.
“I stand behind Dr. Huxtable one hundred percent,” Trump said. An aide whispered in his ear. Trump smiled, “Sorry, I get them mixed-up all the time. You know, them. Dr. Carson. I stand behind Dr. Carson one-hundred percent. Slaves were just unpaid immigrant interns, yup.”
A reporter asked Trump what made him think Carson was right for the role of HUD Secretary.
“Well, I mean, you know, he’s um, one of them, isn’t he,” Trump asked rhetorically.
Reporters asked Trump what he meant by “one of them.” The president-elect first just winked back at the reporters. When they didn’t understand what he meant, he tried touching his nose. Exasperated, Mr. Trump finally answered the question in his trademark way.
“Look, he’s one of them, you know what I mean,” Trump said, “you know, his people are into jazz and they have an extra muscle that makes them good sports.”
The press pool was still not quite sure what he meant. Trump tried again to explain to him why he was choosing Dr. Carson for his HUD secretaro.
“It’s got the word urban in it, right,” Trump asked, “and when we think of urban we think of people of a certain…type, right? You know they all smoke marihuana cigarrettes and their women are Jezebels, strong sexual appetites, know what I mean?”
Still, the reporters weren’t quite understanding what Mr. Trump was getting at. He dug in even further.
“C’mon people, follow me here,” Trump implored them, “the job has the word urban in it, he’s an urban. You know, an URBAN. Like, his people are incapable of self-care and sink into lunacy under the burden of freedom.”
Looking puzzled, members of the press pool still couldn’t quite understand what Trump’s meaning was. They pushed for more clarity. Growing ever more flustered, Mr. Trump tried to oblige.
“You know, he could be a minstrel,” Trump offered, “he’s a good song and dance man, get it? Like, he’s not going to go swimming any time soon, no matter how long ago he ate. Get it now? Huh?”
After fifteen more minutes of trying to get the reporters assembled there to understand him, Trump finally gave up. He dug into his pocket, and got out some black shoe polish. He also got out a large rag and started smearing the polish all over his face, except around his eyes and mouth, there he left his trademark orange skin intact. He began singing.
“Everything seems lovely when you start to roam,” Trump sang out, continuing, “The birds are singin’, the day that you stray. But wait until you are further away
Things won’t be so lovely when you’re all alone. Here’s what you’ll keep saying when you’re far from home. Mammy, Mammy. The sun shines east, the sun shines west.
I know where the sun shines best.”
The media simply grew quiet, their jaws agape.
“Mammy, my little Mammy,” Trump forged on, “My heartstrings are tangled around Alabammy. I’m comin’, sorry that I made you wait. I’m comin’, hope and trust that I’m not late, oh oh.
Mammy, my little Mammy. I’d walk a million miles for one of your smiles. My Mammy, oh oh.”
No one knew what to do, or what to say. So they just kept taking notes as Trump sang on.
“Mammy, my little Mammy,” Mr. Trump bellowed forth, “The sun shines east, the sun shines west. I know where, I know where the sun shines best. It’s on my Mammy I’m talkin’ about, nobody else’s. My little Mammy. My heartstrings are tangled around Alabammy. Mammy, Mammy, I’m comin’. I, I hope I didn’t make you wait.”
Now, it seemed that trump was building a crescendo. He was clearly ready to bring it all home. The reporters still just watched in stunned amazement.
“Mammy, Mammy, I’m comin’,” Trump sang, “Oh God I, I hope I’m not late. Mammy look at me. Don’t you know me? I’m your little baby. I’d walk a million miles for one of your smiles
My Mammy!”
Follow James on Twitter @JamboSchlarmbo.
