On Thursday, in an attempt to mitigate rising polls calling for his impeachment, President Donald Trump engaged in a bit of whataboutism regarding President Barack Obama.
During his first press conference after Nancy Pelosi announced the House of Representatives were beginning an impeachment inquiry against Trump, the President responded to a question regarding the propriety of his phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
A reporter asked why it is OK for the United States President to ask a foreign government to give him dirt on his political rivals.
“Can you explain to the American people why it is appropriate for an American President to ask a foreign leader for information about a political rival and what you would have said if you’d discovered that Barack Obama perhaps had asked a foreign leader for information about you.”
Trump responded:
"Well, that’s what he did, isn’t it? Really, when you think about it, that whole witch hunt was started, and hopefully that will all come out."
But a man who was beside Obama throughout his presidency refuted Trump's claim.
Pete Souza, former official photographer for the 44th President dubbed the 45th President "Comrade minus" in a take on "Individual 1" and stated in an Instagram post:
"Comrade minus today, in his desperation, stated that President Obama pressured foreign leaders for dirt on Trump."
"I photographed virtually every phone call President Obama ever had with a head of state and was almost always in the room for the entirety of each call (including this one aboard Air Force One in 2012)."
"I can assure you that President Obama never once asked any foreign leader for dirt on Trump or any other political opponent."
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on
Another photo he captioned:
"President Obama could paddle and talk on the phone at the same time."
"Comrade minus is up the creek without a paddle."
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on
On another, he took a stab at who the whistleblower was.
"It’s true, President Obama was the whistleblower."
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on
Yet another?
"From 2012, when a phone call with a foreign leader didn’t result in an impeachment inquiry."
View this post on InstagramFrom 2012, when a phone call with a foreign leader didn’t result in an impeachment inquiry.
A post shared by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on
Souza has been responding visually to Trump's false claims about his former photographic subject for some time. The current President Obama largely ignores his successors lies about him.
There are plenty of other people who have facts to refute the lies.
Like Pete Souza with photos and captions like:
"In the olden days, when the President of the United States talked on the phone to Vladimir Putin (or any other head of state), there were trusted aides listening in and taking notes."
"And there was no chance he would have promised Putin (or any other world leader) something that would endanger national security.😎#ThrowShadeThenVote"
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on
As of Friday, September 27, the 2020 presidential election is 402 days away.
Souza's latest photography collection, Shade: A Tale of Two Presidents is available here.
*****
Listen to the first season of George Takei's podcast, 'Oh Myyy Pod!' where we explore the racially charged videos that have taken the internet by storm.
Be sure to subscribe here and never miss an episode.
