Former President Donald Trump was arraigned Thursday for the third time after special counsel Jack Smith hit the former president with four federal charges for his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, and for allegedly plotting to overturn the 2020 election.
The media was in its element covering the arrest of the leading 2024 Republican presidential candidate and, unlike their total lack of interest when stories of Biden family corruption break, they were fixated on every minute detail, such as how the judge greeted Trump.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya presided over Thursday’s proceedings and she greeted the former president as Mr. Trump — which appears to be proper protocol. But the Trump-obsessed media pounced on this as a slight, suggesting it was not the more formal greeting Trump preferred.
!!! via @MLevineReports – beginning the proceedings, the judge said to Trump: “Good afternoon, Mr. Trump”.
If there is one thing I know Trump loves that he’s called Mr. President now.
— John Santucci (@Santucci) August 3, 2023
Of course, that take didn’t go over well on social media, as seen here:
Small beta male liberal men…
— Chris Johansson (@ChyBigDaddy) August 4, 2023
Sounds like your opinion rather than reporting to me.
— Francis Mendez (@Fmendezesq) August 4, 2023
The ABC News executive editorial producer who shared the tweet above was not alone in marveling over the “Mr. Trump” salutation:
Every other president would have been addressed as “President” not “Mr.”… Let’s be real. https://t.co/WmzSluzenn
— Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) August 3, 2023
Collins: I am told that one thing that irked him particularly was during that hearing today when the magistrate judge referred to him as simply Mr. Trump pic.twitter.com/XPqoy8Wki8
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 4, 2023
Trump addresses the media shortly after being arraigned, calling it what it is — political persecution.
“This is a very sad day for America,” he said, before boarding his plane at Reagan National Airport, in Arlington, Va.
“When you look at what’s happening, this is a persecution of a political opponent… if you can’t beat ’em, you persecute ’em or prosecute ’em,” Trump added.
Former President Trump statement after pleading not guilty at arraignment: “This is a very sad day for America…When you look at what’s happening, this is a persecution of a political opponent.” pic.twitter.com/cKhR9qVrkv
— CSPAN (@cspan) August 3, 2023
Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story from Twitter:
100%. This tells us up front that the judge has already set their own bias in.
— Robin T (@RealRobinToupin) August 4, 2023
Wow don’t wet your pants.
— Dead Che (@dead_che) August 3, 2023
Those mind games. I hope he understood the instructions from the judge. Because they are waiting on him to not comply with the court. Just an observation.
— D. Lockhart (@RealLockhartUSA) August 4, 2023
To clarify, Mr is the proper form of address for a former president who has no other title.
Offices other than the president/vice president may continue to use their title, but the title President is reserved for the current occupant. https://t.co/HoHQNlwOXk
— NCBubblehead (@NCBubblehead) August 4, 2023
Super weird that a judge would know etiquette and protocol and stuff. pic.twitter.com/bjCMOvxs33
— Amygator *not an actual alligator (@AmyA1A) August 3, 2023
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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