They just couldn’t help themselves. During their Wednesday evening reports on the deeply touching and emotional funeral service for the late President George H.W. Bush at the National Cathedral, broadcast networks ABC, CBS, and NBC had to get in their digs against President Trump for his behavior (or lack thereof). One even touted how Trump managed to keep his mouth shut about Bush all week.
In the midst of their stories on the funeral service, both ABC and CBS noted the tension between President Trump and the Clintons. “The Trumps and Clintons did not shake hands,” reported CBS Evening News anchor Jeff Glor after noting how the Trumps and Obamas greeted each other.
Meanwhile, on ABC’s World News Tonight, they actually had an entire segment set aside for discussing Trump’s behavior and a nation divided under him. “As you saw there, one of the most remarkable images of this day, all of the living American presidents together, even in a divided time,” declared sensationalist anchor David Muir. “Because Jon [Karl], it seems it might have been one last call to service for the late President.”
As if he were a bratty child, ABC chief White House correspondent Jon Karl praised Trump for being on his best behavior around the adults:
And for his part, President Trump honored every request that the Bush family made in planning this week's events. And perhaps most importantly, he remained quiet, uncharacteristically so, leaving the spotlight for this week entirely on the memory of the 41st President.
After President Trump was barred from the McCain funeral, the liberal media (Karl in this instance) seemed perplexed that the Bush’s would want the current President there at all:
In fact, David, the Bush family reached out to the Trump White House months ago. They had a clear message. The message was that President Bush wanted President Trump and the First Lady to be part of his memorial. And if you looked out at that crowd today, you also noticed that the Bush family also invited many of the President's top advisers, top White House officials were also there.
“Important unity for the country,” Muir added as they wrapped up the segment.
As for NBC Nightly News, chief foreign affairs correspondent and Clinton fangirl Andrea Mitchell couldn’t help remark that “[i]t was extraordinary to see President Trump sitting with the former presidents paying tribute to a leader whose humility and decency is different from today's politics.”
Karl condescendingly praised Trump for “uncharacteristically” “leaving the spotlight for this week entirely on the memory of the 41st President.” Too bad the liberal media couldn’t do the same. But then again, it’s 2018 and everything was now political.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
December 5, 2018
6:38:24 p.m. Eastern [1 minute 3 seconds]DAVID MUIR: As you saw there, one of the most remarkable images of this day, all of the living American presidents together, even in a divided time. So, I want to bring in ABC's chief White House correspondent Jonathan Karl tonight. Because Jon, it seems it might have been one last call to service for the late President. George H.W. Bush, himself orchestrating this rare moment of unity.
JON KARL: In fact, David, the Bush family reached out to the Trump White House months ago. They had a clear message. The message was that President Bush wanted President Trump and the First Lady to be part of his memorial. And if you looked out at that crowd today, you also noticed that the Bush family also invited many of the President's top advisers, top White House officials were also there. And for his part, President Trump honored every request that the Bush family made in planning this week's events. And perhaps most importantly, he remained quiet, uncharacteristically so, leaving the spotlight for this week entirely on the memory of the 41st President.
MUIR: Important unity for the country. Jon Karl, thanks so much for your reporting all day.
