'Congrats America': Stunned analysts call Mar-a-Lago speech 'off the rails' even for Trump
In a wide-ranging and rambling press conference on Monday, President-elect Donald Trump talked about possible military action in Panama and Greenland, renaming the Gulf of Mexico, called America a "horrible place," and attacked foes like President Joe Biden and special counsel Jack Smith.
Some of those watching called it a "train wreck" — and noted that Trump had gone "off the rails" before his inauguration.
"Dear god, this presser is batsh-t even for Trump," said one-time D.C. staffer and influencer @Angry_Staffer. "He’s b----hing about water pressure. He’s talking about electric heaters making people itch. He says he’s going to try to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. He says windmills drive whales crazy."
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Political analyst Rachel Bitecofer responded to Trump's demand to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico, "Someone shoot me."
Writer and MSNBC commentator Molly Jong-Fast suggested that Trump's Gulf of America comment "could very well just be a troll."
"Stay focused on protecting norms and institutions and not on the 'gulf of America,'" she urged Americans.
On BlueSky, CNBC's Carl Quintanilla suggested it's time to change New Mexico to "New America," with a face-palm emoji.
Long-time columnist Will Bunch observed on BlueSky, "It's not just that off-the-wall press conference. Judge Cannon, the Facebook capitulation, the Washington Post implosion, the NC SCOTUS about to overturn an election... The fascist doomerism and democratic collapse is OFF THE RAILS today. It's only Jan. 7."
When it comes to the "Gulf of America," Bunch said, "I mean, this is Caligula-naming-his-horse-a-consul level stuff."
"And Canadians will have to wear their underwear on the outside. Seriously, this is demented," said former New York Times columnist and Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Krugman.
Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal posted, "Confession: I'm not prepared for the amount of energy I'm going to have to expend over the next 4 years knocking down absolutely cray cray economic ramblings."
"Well, that was f--king crazy. Congrats, America," said independent journalist Aaron Rupar.