Trumpwatch

He's lying again! (Shocker)

This is the next in the series of Trumpwatch. With his daily lies it’s easy to become numb. We can’t.

First, at a recent campaign event in New Hampshire, where the GOP primary will be held Tuesday, Donald Trump said the state’s election process will “allow Democrats to vote in the Republican primary.” He added that his rival “Nikki Haley is counting on Democrats and liberals to infiltrate your Republican primary.”

Then, at another event, Trump mocked opponent Nikki Haley’s birth name – pretending to stumble as he pronounced Nimrata Randhawa – and used her Indian heritage to float a “birther” conspiracy theory that suggested Haley might not be a proper U.S. citizen. (Remember when he applied the same craziness to President Obama?)

Finally, with Tim Scott on stage, Trump claimed that the January 6th committee destroyed all the evidence, in a bazaar rambling speech. He also claimed that Nikki Haley was in charge of Capitol security.

Let’s analyze these Trump lies in the order in which he spoke them.

First, the idea that Democrats can vote in the GOP primary is pure BS. Registered Democrats cannot vote in the GOP race.  (Independents, who are usually middle-of-the roaders can.) It has always been thus, and Trump must know it. Why did he lie about this? Well, I think he’s afraid he’s going to fall short of expectations on Tuesday.  His lie will give him a chance to say, “See, the Democrats voted, and they hate me!”  

If Trump underperforms on Tuesday in New Hampshire it will be because of the independents who oppose him and New Hampshire Republicans who are less likely to have joined his cult than Republicans elsewhere.   

Trump’s second lie, about Nikki Haley’s citizenship, was calculated to be a late-in-the-day smear that would cause doubt in voters’ minds. Yes, the “birther” tone will sound familiar but don’t forget, many GOPers still have doubts about Obama’s parentage and birthplace. Would they be receptive to a similar cloud of confusion where Haley is concerned? I’m sure they would be.

Lastly, the January 6th committee on which I served did not destroy evidence. In fact it is all stored here and that is in addition to the actual report. This lie has legs in the right wing ecosystem where truth matters not. Of course he knows Nikki Haley had nothing to do with Capitol security, that was just the confused ramblings of an man past his prime and riddled with fear.

And so here we are, with the first primary 48 hours away and Trump performing the same old tricks. It was Haley herself who offered the conclusion we should all reach.  Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, she said, “Another reason we need to move on from Trump: too many lies.”

Amen