Trump, Barron, and the dog

[lanlady]

I just heard an interview with David Frum about his new book, Trumpocracy. One of the questions he was asked was, what does he find most despicable about Trump? His answer: the cruelty. He gave several notorious examples, including his treatment of the Khan family and his mocking of the disabled NYT reporter. Another example was a story I had never heard before, whereby, supposedly, Trump promised his son Barron he could get a puppy if daddy won the election. After his win, some friend of Trump offered a puppy to take to the White House. According to Frum, Trump showed Barron a photo of the dog and Barron was so happy he started to cry with delight. Not long after, Trump told his son there would be no dog. He simply broke his promise to his son.

Frum is one of few Republicans for whom I have a shred of respect. Does anyone know anything more about this story?

[MFM008]

1. Sounds like him

A total shitstain.

[lanlady]

5. Yup!

I vaguely remember the media reporting about the arrival of a dog in the Trump White House, but of course it didn’t happen.

Not only is there no affection between Trump and Melania, but one almost never sees him doing “dad” things with the son. I feel a bit sorry for Barron but nothing but scorn for the mother for letting her husband treat the kid this way.

[Kirk Lover]

18. He truly is an absentee father, apparently that's something to be admired! n/t

[erronis]

37. Absentee everything, except greed. Parent:not, Husband:no, pResident:name_only,

dicktator-sucker: yes,
trustworthy: hell_no,
business_savvy: no,
narcissist: we_all_know,
rich_as_croesus: only_in_his_dreams
weight: obese,
height: elevator_insoles,
glamor_quotient: for_130K_maybe,
government_killer: perhaps,
repuglican_killer: we_can_hope

[mythology]

77. Considering what am awful human being he is

And how lousy Don Jr, Eric and Ivanka turned out, maybe Barron will be better off.

[bdamomma]

104. tRump

was the same way with his other kids too, didn't pay much attention to them until they were older, then Daddy Dearest could get something from them.

Barron, that kid is going to have some mental/adjustment issues.

[Metro135]

60. And compare this to Obama's obvious love and affection for his daughters

Trump family values = $$$$$$$$$$$

[bdamomma]

105. Welcome to DU

yea, was it Donald Jr. or Eric who said their father's favourite color is green ($$). I hope he chokes on it.

[PJMcK]

2. Trump has never had a pet

This could explain a lot about him.

[sunonmars]

9. My one golden rule in life, never ever trust anyone who does not like animals.

[murielm99]

12. I would bet that animals don't like 45.

The rule works the other way, too. I don't trust anyone who is disliked by animals. Dogs know. If my dog dislikes someone, I am wary of that person.

[Kirk Lover]

20. I agree, I can accept if you personally don't have a pet...but to say I hate animals or I

don't like them. That's a red flag for me.

[samnsara]

25. yep i agree

[canetoad]

28. Mine too

I take it even further, watching people on tv and in movies to read their body language around dogs and cats. You'd be surprised how many don't even acknowledge the presence of animals. Others just naturally gravitate towards them.

[Jim__]

50. Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. - Anatole France

I have to agree with him.

[smirkymonkey]

91. I love that quote. I have never heard it before, but it's true.

For me, there is something about a dog that I can open my whole heart to which is something I can't do with people. I am completely happy and at peace in the presence of a dog which leads me to believe that happiness lies in loving rather than in being loved.

[suffragette]

108. Beautiful quote. Simple truth.

[paleotn]

67. Very wise.

[sweetroxie]

69. That's big on my list too,

Their relationship to animals is a strong indicator of who they are.

[trixie2]

78. Hey!

Maybe someone doesn't want to live with an animal because of allergies. Maybe they just can't do the vet thing and understand that animals need and deserve great care and just can't do it. Maybe they wouldn't ever want to see an animal hurt or mistreated and thinks that pet owners SHOULD take excellent care of their pets. Finally, why does every animal on the face of this earth gravitate towards me without any invitation?

Listen, I will not pick up dog poop or clean cat pans but will donate to shelters and owners who can't afford proper pet care. I drop and run.

To add: My parents grew up in the projects and weren't allowed pets so when they had their own house they got a ton of animal. We had a cat, hunting dog, rabbits, bird, snake, fish tanks, gerbil, hamsters - that's all I can remember...It was our job, the kids, to care for these animals and when I moved out at 18 I said, "As God is my witness I will never have animal fur on my clothes again". Never did. Long story short, me and none of my siblings had pets in our own homes but my nieces and nephews now all have animals in their homes. It's a generational thing in our family. All family functions have to be held at my or my siblings homes, the pet free ones.

[OhioBlue]

85. I understand. When I first moved out, I didn't want animals either.

Growing up with dogs and having your barbie dolls and shoes chewed up, dog hair, etc.. left me with a yearning for a pet free home. It lasted until my late 20s when a kitten found me.... then a dog found us... I definitely think good people and animal lovers can have a pet free home. One of the biggest dog lovers I know is currently pet free. She can't get over the heart break from her last dog plus with her schedule she has been finding the lack of stress to get home and let the dogs out better for her at this time in her life.

[lanlady]

10. Makes sense - Trump cant bear not to be the center of attention

And a cute dog steals the show every time

[hedda_foil]

15. If he'd had a pet, he would undoubtedly have abused it.

[erronis]

38. Uh, isn't that what he does to wives and girlfriends? Pets until he's tired of them.

[bdamomma]

106. dysfunctional POS

what a despicable POS tRump is.

[blogslut]

31. My mother grew up on a farm.

She learned the hard way to not get attached to animals. She never really warmed any of our family's pets but she let us have them.

Apparently, BLOTUS thinks pets are low class - which is ridiculous because history is filled with images and stories of upper-class adoration for pets. In fact, I would venture to say that the concept of pets comes from the aristocracy, as opposed to the lower classes whose ownership of critters was more about working animals than cuddly companions.

[jg10003]

35. You're right. In 18th - 19th century England pet dogs were taxed, working dogs were not. Working

dogs often had their tails bobbed to distinguish them from pets.

[catrose]

68. And never should

I'm sorry, Barron. Maybe when you and Mommy move out.

[C_U_L8R]

3. Barron may grow up to be Damian

[lanlady]

8. Would not be suprised

A combination of poor parenting and some really, really bad genes. One shudders to think.

[crazycatlady]

22. I still have hopes for that kid

And to a much lesser extent Tiffany.

But with Barron, there's a good chance that his father won't be around in his adult life like he is with Ivana's kids. Everything I've seen of him makes him seem like a decent human being (there's a cute pic where he's playing peek a boo with one of his nieces/nephews). I hope he turns out to be the Trump kid that tells all.

[trixie2]

80. I agree with you

Sometimes a kid will see a bad parent and do a 160.

[renate]

23. I think that Melania is a loving mom, and Barron seems sweet

I think and hope that he'll be okay.

[kskiska]

62. If it comes to it

Melania will choose Barron over Donald.

[RKP5637]

4. Trump is a sadist, not surprised at all. n/t

[UTUSN]

6. Frum, plus Nicole WALLACE, Stephen SCHMIDT, and Michael STEELE

[hedda_foil]

16. I agree 100%. I am so impressed by each of them.

The Republican party was literally their business and they were tops in their field. They gave it up on principle. That says a lot about them imho.

[jberryhill]

17. Gave it up on principle, my ass

None of them had a job. Steele was tossed out in favor of Priebus, Wallace was unemployable for having dished about Palin.

These people do not have principles, and do not do anything on principle.

If they were still getting paychecks for being assholes, they’d still be assholes.

[samnsara]

26. i like them. They could have gone on and sold their souls to FOX.

[erronis]

46. I hate to agree about such a broad condemnation, but I do. Media-centered people are

Not centered on truth or logic or ethics.

They are centered on what sells their messages for their employers.

Once the employer is no longer, perhaps they see that there are greener fields on the other side of the fence.

All of us should adapt a policy that a commentator's past pronouncements are part of his/her evaluation. They don't get a dispensation since they uttered one or two "heartfelt" comments coming from the other perspective.

Earn it. Spend at least as many years being honest as you spent being dishonest. Issue some real mea culpas. The type that will make you enemies back in your old camp.

[Raine]

74. I TOTALLY agree

I don't trust them one bit, they're just Trump haters who have their own right-wing agenda plus being in it for greed no principles at all. No one should be fooled just because that bunch hates Trump, they're what they've always been!

[LanternWaste]

103. That sentiment could be consistently and accurately applied to almost every adult in the nation

"If they were still getting paychecks for being assholes, they’d still be assholes..."

That sentiment could be consistently and accurately applied to almost every adult in the nation (though no one would admit to it, of course...).

[gopiscrap]

27. fuck each one of them

they encouraged and profited off of the republican sleaze, cheating and grifting all these years. Now that it is so bad that it is obvious, they change their tune. Fuck each of them, I hope they all croak and burn in hell (that goes for any republican, past, present and future)

[LakeArenal]

40. Wow. The hate...

I like Nichole Wallace, and agree about Trump with the rest.. I realize that if the Republican party turns the corner and allows some humanity into it again, I will not agree with either Wallace, Steele or Schmidt again. But it sure doesn't mean I can't agree with them now. That's politics.
One party of hate is plenty.

[SweetieD]

7. Sounds exactly like something Trump would do.

[malaise]

11. So what's new?

Has that scumbag ever kept a promise?

[TheRealistRealist]

13. He's an cruel pos..I hate him.. n/t

[LakeArenal]

43. Maybe the Eagles meant him when they sang....

He had nasty reputation as a cruel dude
They said he was ruthless, said he was crude

[lapfog_1]

14. this sounds like a fake story

taking a true thing that Obama did and twisting it for Trump

[SunSeeker]

30. It's a true story.

Here's the would-be First Dog, offered up by Lois Pope, a philanthropist who has known Trump for 20 years:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2352327/donald-trump-picks-goldendoodle-as-his-white-house-pet-and-hes-named-it-patton-after-the-legendary-wwii-general/

And then he changes his mind:

Pope recalls Trump saying, “I can’t take the dog. Look at what I do. I’m here, I’m in New York, I’m in Washington. What am I going to do with the dog?”

http://www.bravotv.com/blogs/donald-trump-goldendoodle-patton

As always, it's all about Donald. HE couldn't deal with the dog, never mind that his son does not travel back and forth between NY and DC.

[Historic NY]

33. I would be good for the kid, he has little or no interaction with the father...

it worked out for Obama family and staff.

[SunSeeker]

36. It would be good for Melania too. I doubt she gets much affection in that marriage. nt

[wishstar]

19. A Palm Beach socialite friend of the Trumps was reportedly looking for a dog for Barron

She apparently did find an ideal dog. Several fawning pro-Trump media outlets were all aflutter about how wonderful this chosen dog would be for the Trumps in the WH. The rightwingers were trying to soften and humanize the monster in the WH until he squashed the idea flat.

[SunSeeker]

32. Yup. Link:

Last edited Sun Jan 28, 2018, 07:11 PM - Edit history (1)

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2352327/donald-trump-picks-goldendoodle-as-his-white-house-pet-and-hes-named-it-patton-after-the-legendary-wwii-general/

[smirkymonkey]

93. He probably rejected the idea because he knew that his wife and child would love the dog

more than they love him - which is not at all. He can't stand to be upstaged.

[bdamomma]

107. he has magnified

that don con job likes to takes center stage doesn't he? every frigging night and since his illegal election all they do is talk about him it is getting so sick a narcissist is right.

Don't focus on the American people talk about me please. I can hear tRump saying that. What a POS.

[IluvPitties]

21. Trump is a shitty person. I hope Barron grows up rejecting him.

[erronis]

49. And the dump would say "Barron who?" fake wife, fake child, fake history

[milestogo]

24. The Obama girls were promised a puppy after the election too

and their father came through for them.

[smirkymonkey]

42. What a great husband and father!

And PRESIDENT! I miss them so much! If we could only have him back.

[LakeArenal]

45. Sigh...

Small tear for what we lost....

[Docreed2003]

47. Beautiful!

[bdamomma]

109. oh god, if we could go back

to that kind of leadership again, we will never see the likes of this kind of warmth, intelligence, humbleness again.

What a lovely family. I miss them I miss sanity.

[TNNurse]

29. Didn't I read that he thought that the Pence family having pets was

"low class"? I think there are some pretty damn high class people with pets. Elizabeth II comes to mind.

[Ilsa]

39. Yes, it was on DU, too.

I guess DOTUS would insult QE2 for taking the corgies for a stroll in the gardens.

[SunSeeker]

41. Yup:

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/363381-trump-thought-it-was-low-class-for-pence-to-bring-pets-to-vp

[JDC]

34. The kid looks sad all the time. He needs a dog.

Dotard can't stand to give up the attention a dog would get.

[Mr. Ected]

44. This from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in December, regarding Mike Pence:

Vice President Mike Pence and his family live with two cats, a rabbit, and a snake at their official residence on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington.

That makes them “low-class,” according to his boss, who said he was “embarrassed” by the menagerie, and who labeled the Pences “yokels,” according to the Atlantic.

So now, President Donald Trump — whose statements have offended immigrants, Muslims, the disabled, women, prisoners of war, and even Arnold Schwarzenegger — has insulted one of the most passionate (and numerous) subsets of Americans there is:

Pet people.


So yeah...there's no reason to believe that this is "fake news". Trump is a dick.

[SunSeeker]

54. This is not fake news.

Last edited Sun Jan 28, 2018, 07:08 PM - Edit history (1)

Here's the would-be First Dog, offered up by Lois Pope, a philanthropist who has known Trump for 20 years: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2352327/donald-trump-picks-goldendoodle-as-his-white-house-pet-and-hes-named-it-patton-after-the-legendary-wwii-general/


Then Trump changed his mind.

[Docreed2003]

48. Shitheads gonna shithead....

And we’ve certainly got King Turd!

[erronis]

52. Passing this turd is going to take a lot of plungers, snakes, maybe rectal surgery

Of course, as I write the title, I come up with lots of thoughts/images.

Rectal Surgery: removing the cruddy old bits in the repuglican house.

[VOX]

83. And a tsunami of Draino as a rinse.

[Vinca]

51. If true, it's on the top 10 list of shitty things he's done. Sounds just like him.

[SunSeeker]

55. It's true.

Last edited Sun Jan 28, 2018, 07:07 PM - Edit history (1)

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2352327/donald-trump-picks-goldendoodle-as-his-white-house-pet-and-hes-named-it-patton-after-the-legendary-wwii-general/

[Motley13]

53. I recall that the moron thought it disgusting that Pence brought

animals to the VP residence, I think it was a dog, cat & bunny

[left-of-center2012]

56. Has not Trump said ...

... he's there for the procreation of the child,
but once the child is born
it is up to the mother to raise them.

"F___ 'em,
and forget 'em"

[SunSeeker]

57. A simple Google search confirms the story.

Last edited Sun Jan 28, 2018, 07:30 PM - Edit history (2)

Here's the would-be First Dog, offered up by Lois Pope, a philanthropist who has known Trump for 20 years:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2352327/donald-trump-picks-goldendoodle-as-his-white-house-pet-and-hes-named-it-patton-after-the-legendary-wwii-general/

And then he changes his mind:

Pope recalls Trump saying, “I can’t take the dog. Look at what I do. I’m here, I’m in New York, I’m in Washington. What am I going to do with the dog?”

http://www.bravotv.com/blogs/donald-trump-goldendoodle-patton

As always, it's all about Donald. HE couldn't deal with the dog, never mind that his son does not travel back and forth between NY and DC.

[HipChick]

63. It's not like he'd be looking after the dog himself...

What a selfish prick he is..

[SunSeeker]

72. He was making up a phoney excuse. He just hates dogs. And yes, he is horribly selfish. nt

[HipChick]

73. I think he's afraid of dogs...he's afraid of many things, stairs..

He projects this big guy imagine....

[Marcuse]

58. Bad Things That Happen To Dogs According To *45

[link:http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/03/donald-trumps-bleak-view-of-how-dogs-live.html|

[smirkymonkey]

94. Sick, sick man.

I would love nothing more than to see a dog take a piss on his leg.

[SharonClark]

59. I wouldn't put a dog anywhere near Trump

He'd probably kick it.

[kskiska]

61. Ivana had a dog when she met Donald.

She refused to get rid of it, and the dog slept on her side of the bed (they shared a bed then, not like today where he and Melania have separate rooms). Ivana has always had a dog. Donald didn't like it, though. (According to Ivana's latest book.)

[3catwoman3]

64. As if Cadet Bone Spurs...

...would have had anything to do with the care of the dog.

The answer to his question, “What would I do with a dog?” Nothing. Just like what he does with his youngest son.

[red dog 1]

65. According to a 12/8/2016 article in The Sun (UK) "Donald Trump picks Goldendoodle as WH pet"

I don't have a link, but the December 6, 2016 article in "The Sun" is titled:
"Donald Trump picks Goldendoodle as his White House pet"

(From the article)
"Lois Pope, who has known Trump for 20 years..says she is confident that the Trump's will take the puppy, which she named Patton after George Patton, a World War ll general Trump has said he admires..."

So this may be the puppy in the photo David Frum was referring to.

(btw, a "Goldendoodle" is a "designer dog," a hybrid dog breed resulting from breeding a Poodle with a Golden Retriever)

[disalitervisum]

66. Not specifically about the dog which is horrible enough, but who

forces a fifth-grader to wear a suit and tie all the time?

[Raine]

87. Trump's father

did it to him. I read one time his father caught Donnie wearing casual clothes and smacked him in the head right in front of his friends and classmates. No wonder it appears that he's brain damaged, being smacked in the head continually will do that to you.

[JI7]

88. that was Trump who did that to Don JR

but Barron doesn't wear a suit most times now. usually he wears what most kids his age do so melania may have stopped trump from forcing the suit thing.

[Raine]

110. Thanks

for straightening that out ops I had father and son mixed up.

[JI7]

70. The fact that he wanted a dog and cried over it shows he is nothing like Trump

Which speaks well for him and what type of person he could be.

[spanone]

71. I can't imagine a dog wanting to go near trump the elder. I consider the dog lucky.

what a shitty thing to do to your son.

[GusBob]

75. dumped Bannon like a dog

He did say that

[VOX]

84. Bannon had mange, fleas, ticks and lice.

HD TV was NOT made for Bannon’s image.

[yankeepants]

76. lucky dog

[Bleacher Creature]

79. I genuinely feel bad for that kid.

He didn't ask for this, and it sounds like he's got some issues of his own. I really hope Melania gets him the hell out of there ASAP.

[OhioBlue]

86. I feel bad for him too. I hope Melania gets him away from T and he can have a puppy

and a happy life free from abuse.

[Maraya1969]

82. Melania should get him a dog. Doesn't Barron live with her in that hotel now?

[EffieBlack]

89. I love dogs and, therefore, pray Trump never gets one

[JI7]

90. i think Barron would take good care of the dog but not as long as Trump has any power/control

over him. i can see him ordering someone to get the dog and do something horrible to it.

[EffieBlack]

92. One accident and no telling what the germaphobe-in-chief would do to the poor little thing

[JI7]

95. i actually don't think he is a germaphobe at all

i think he made that up as a way to try to make people think the pee tape stuff couldn't be true.

i think he just hates animals for the same reason he hates people . he is just a disgusting cold , mean , horrible person. it wouldn't even take an accident for him to harm the dog. he would just do it out of enjoyment .

but i guess once barron is of legal age or if melania ever completely leaves trump they can then get a dog. but not anytime trump has any control over them.

[barbtries]

96. i had not heard this

but i did read somewhere that he was disgusted that Pence brought his dog to his DC home.

[niyad]

97. KO covered this during the campaign

WTF! Why is Trump Such a Weirdo About Dogs? | The Closer with Keith Olbermann | GQ

[smirkymonkey]

98. Seriously, what is it with Trump and dogs?

Why does he hate them so much? What an evil man!

[niyad]

99. possibly because he knows that they are smarter than he,

[Orsino]

100. Oh, there's a reason.

[Sneederbunk]

101. Obama had a dog so you don't get a dog.

[democratisphere]

102. Thankfully there will be no dog to abuse too!

[Solly Mack]

111. Everything about Trump screams abusive parent.

No shocker that.