Donald Trump – yes, that Donald Trump – just said something nice about… Barack Obama. No, you’re not hallucinating, and yes, we double-checked to make sure it wasn’t Opposite Day.
In a recent interview, Trump decided to put down his usual supply of snark and pick up a compliment instead. (Don’t worry, it still came with a side of shade – baby steps, right?) Before Barack and Michelle Obama graced the Democratic National Convention stage with their signature class and elegance, Trump chimed in with some thoughts on the former POTUS and FLOTUS that left everyone scratching their heads and checking the sky for flying pigs.
“I like him,” Trump said, with all the enthusiasm of someone pretending to enjoy a kale salad. “I think he’s a nice gentleman, but he was very weak on trade. If you take a look at what happened to our country trade-wise, it was a disaster,” he added, because apparently, no compliment is complete without a dash of criticism.
And just when you thought Trump was done with his unexpected detour into Niceland, he threw in, “I happen to like him. I respect him, and I respect his wife.” Yes, you read that right. Respect! For both Obamas! Somewhere, a conspiracy theorist is sobbing into their tinfoil hat.
Of course, this is the same Trump who once championed the whole “birtherism” nonsense about Obama’s birthplace, but hey, people change, right? Or at least, they take confusing turns in interviews that make you question everything you thought you knew.
So, is this a new era of Trump-Obama friendship? A buddy comedy waiting to happen? Or just a momentary glitch in the Matrix? Only time will tell!
“I happen to like [Obama]. I respect him and I respect his wife.”
— Donald Trump on President Obama and Michelle Obama ahead of their DNC speeches tonight pic.twitter.com/MDxJtCBf91
— The Recount (@therecount) August 20, 2024