Another day, another Donald Trump Twitter meltdown — this time directed at former Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields. As Jim Geraghty noted earlier, Florida police charged Corey Lewandowski – Trump’s campaign manager — with misdemeanor battery following the now-famous incident where he apparently grabbed her and pulled her back from questioning Donald Trump, allegedly bruising her arm. Newly-released surveillance footage shows the incident clearly (Fields is in the cream-colored top standing next to Trump):
https://youtube.com/watch?v=kLmQtOvU4Bc
The charge comes after the Lewandowski first allegedly claimed he only pulled her back because he didn’t know she was from Breitbart. Then, he took to Twitter to not only claim that he never touched her (plainly false) but to try to smear her as a fabulist. Trump backed Lewandowski, claiming that no less of an authority than the Secret Service told him that nothing happened.
That’s the old spin. The new spin is — get this — Lewandowski was defending Trump from a dangerous woman. Check out these tweets, from Trump himself:
Victory press conference was over.
Why is she allowed to grab me and shout questions? Can I press charges? pic.twitter.com/qbW2RjkINX— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2016
And this:
Why is this reporter touching me as I leave news conference? What is in her hand?? pic.twitter.com/HQB8dl0fhn
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2016
This is a matter that could have been cleared up with a simple apology. Indeed, that’s all Fields wanted. Instead, Trump and his campaign manager tried to destroy her reputation and now they cast her as a predator, with the Secret Service allegedly “confirming” that one of its agents warned her away.
This is unhinged. The man lies like we have no memory, like the world has no record of his words, and like the truth is a mere vapor. He keeps melting down, but to his supporters every lie and every tantrum is evidence his strength and fortitude. God help us.