SHATTERED: Mount Vernon Exposes Politico’s Very Fake News Story About Trump’s Visit To George Washington’s Estate

To liberals and their lapdogs in the media, all Republican presidents are stupid — like, really stupid.

The Gipper was a moron, or as Slate put it, “The stupidity of Ronald Reagan.” George W. Bush was such an idiot that Vice President Dick Cheney actually ran the White House (remember those stories?). And President Trump, I mean, c’mon. The liberal media questions whether he can even read. The liberal disdain is all summed up in this New York magazine story: “Why Republicans Love Dumb Presidents” (‘cuz don’t forget, all Republicans are stupid, too).

So when Trump escorted French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife to George Washington’s home in Mount Vernon, Va., just outside Washington, D.C., last April, of course he was too dumb to understand any of the significance of the place. At least according to the liberal inside-the-Beltway “news” site Politico.

The president’s disinterest in Washington made it tough for tour guide Bradburn to sustain Trump’s interest during a deluxe 45-minute tour of the property which he later described to associates as “truly bizarre.” The Macrons, Bradburn has told several people, were far more knowledgeable about the history of the property than the president.

A former history professor with a PhD, Bradburn “was desperately trying to get [Trump] interested in” Washington’s house, said a source familiar with the visit, so he spoke in terms Trump understands best — telling the president that Washington was an 18th century real-estate titan who had acquired property throughout Virginia and what would come to be known as Washington, D.C.

Trump asked whether Washington was “really rich,” according to a second person familiar with the visit. In fact, Washington was either the wealthiest or among the wealthiest Americans of his time, thanks largely to his mini real estate empire.

“That is what Trump was really the most excited about,” this person said.

“This person.” The story would prompt laughter it was a tale told at a cocktail party, but this piece was actually published.

The sourcing in the story is absurd: “according to three sources briefed on the exchange” and “according to a second person familiar with the visit” and “one person close to the White House.” But still, the writers attribute direct quotes to Trump.

During a guided tour of Mount Vernon last April with French president Emmanuel Macron, Trump learned that Washington was one of the major real-estate speculators of his era. So, he couldn’t understand why America’s first president didn’t name his historic Virginia compound or any of the other property he acquired after himself.

“If he was smart, he would’ve put his name on it,” Trump said, according to three sources briefed on the exchange. “You’ve got to put your name on stuff or no one remembers you.”

“Three sources briefed on the exchange”?! So, they weren’t there, but someone told them that Trump said that, then they all told the Politico writers, using the exact same words? Like we said, absurd.

Luckily, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, a private, non-profit organization that runs the historic home, had something to say about the piece — and they completely destroyed it.

Here’s their statement released on Wednesday:

Mount Vernon has a firm, long-standing policy of not commenting on the details of high-profile visits to the home of George Washington. However, we believe in the importance of ensuring that reports about events that take place at Mount Vernon are accurate. As such, we are concerned that the third-party accounts of the Trump-Macron visit released by several media outlets today do not correctly reflect the events that transpired nearly a year ago.

Mount Vernon President Doug Bradburn and Regent Sarah Coulson escorted the presidents and first ladies on a tour of the Mansion on April 23, 2018. During the tour, all parties were interested and engaged in the story of George Washington and his beloved home. Conversations touched on topics like business dealings, real estate, and related matters that were of relevance and interest to the touring parties, and questions were asked by both leaders with curiosity and respect. Comments pulled from sources who were not present for the tour do not properly convey the tone and context in which they were delivered.

Let’s repeat that last line, in bold: “Comments pulled from sources who were not present for the tour do not properly convey the tone and context in which they were delivered.” Ouch. Only took two paragraphs to completely debunk a “fake news” story.

And a couple more things while we’re at it: To the writers of the Politico piece, Eliana Johnson and Daniel Lippman, look up the word “disinterest.” As Inigo Montoya says in Princess Bride, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” It doesn’t mean “lack of interest,” it means “the state of not being influenced by personal involvement in something; impartiality.” So, who’s dumb now?

Last, there was this line in the piece, which figuratively drips with disdain. “Even former President George W. Bush — not known as a tweedy intellectual — consumed several presidential biographies while in office.”

For the record, Bush had a contest with top White House aide Karl Rove. In 2006, Bush read 95 books, or about two a week.

If the Politico writers read just half that much, they might know the meaning of the word “disinterested.”

 

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