Facebook/WikimediaWhile many of us say ‘Good Riddance’ to what has generally been a rather crap year, Donald Trump can look back on 2016 as somewhat of a success.
By any standards, Trump has had a pretty successful 2016 and this year is set to be even greater for the President-elect than the last, particularly come 17 January when he can move into the Oval Office.
You might’ve thought Trump would be quick to share the good will and glad tidings with his fellow Americans for the upcoming year on the eve of its commencement… You’d be wrong. Instead he chose to gloat.
TwitterAs Americans gladly celebrated the dawn of a new year, Trump shared a message of superiority, relishing in his adversaries loss and pain.
Commentators were quick to criticise Trump’s not-so-humble-brag, dubbing it ‘classless’ and childish.
Some said it was the antithesis of behaviour we have come to expect from the President of the United States of America.
Absolutely classless. Beneath the dignity of the Office of the President.
— Mo'Kelly, Inc. (@MrMokelly) December 31, 2016
Enter: President Barack Obama, who also shared a New Year’s Eve video message via The White House on Facebook. During his message of hope and unity, Obama announced he was honoured to have served as President for two terms and looked forward to fulfilling his most important role yet.
He said:
It’s been the privilege of my life to serve as your President. As I prepare to take on the even more important role of citizen, know that I will be there with you every step of the way to ensure that this country forever strives to live up to the incredible promise of our founding: That all of us are created equal, and all of us deserve every chance to live out our dreams.
And from the Obama family to yours — have a happy and blessed 2017.
“To keep America moving forward is a task that falls to all of us. Sustaining and building on all we’ve achieved—from helping more young people afford a higher education, to ending discrimination based on preexisting conditions, to tightening rules on Wall Street, to protecting this planet for our kids—that’s going to take all of us working together. Because that’s always been our story—the story of ordinary people coming together in the hard, slow, sometimes frustrating, but always vital work of self-government. It’s been the privilege of my life to serve as your President. And as I prepare to take on the even more important role of citizen, know that I will be there with you every step of the way to ensure that this country forever strives to live up to the incredible promise of our founding—that all of us are created equal, and all of us deserve every chance to live out our dreams. And from the Obama family to yours—have a happy and blessed 2017.” — President Obama reflecting on 2016: http://go.wh.gov/sV4k4y
Posted by The Obama White House on Saturday, 31 December 2016
Following Obama’s reflection on his Presidency Trump proceeded to share another glib attempt at diplomacy with a rather different, presumably insincere, New Year’s Eve wish for the Free World.
TO ALL AMERICANS-#HappyNewYear & many blessings to you all! Looking forward to a wonderful & prosperous 2017 as we work together to #MAGA?? pic.twitter.com/UaBFaoDYHe
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2017
It seems, despite his own personal achievements, Trump is still yet to master the art of tact, empathy or kindness.
Meanwhile, the inevitable hate-filled shit-storm on Twitter ensues, with playground name-calling and back-stabbing commonplace…
Apparently the Twittersphere continues to hold private citizens to higher standards than the President-elect.
A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.