Donald Trump, as president-elect, found himself under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons this New Year’s Day. According to MSNBC analyst Steve Benen, Trump managed to fail not one, but three critical tests of leadership—all in a single social media post.
Let’s break it down.
The Ignorant Post That Sparked Outrage
Shortly after a tragic incident in New Orleans—where a U.S.-born citizen drove a truck into a crowd, killing 15 people and injuring dozens—Trump tweeted about “migrant crime.” His message? He doubled down on claims that foreign-born criminals are worse than native ones, writing:
“When I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be true. The crime rate in our country is at a level that nobody has ever seen before.”
Now, this might sound dramatic, but as Benen pointed out, it was also flat-out wrong.
Fact Check: What Really Happened?
Benen didn’t hold back. He called Trump’s first statement “wrong on multiple levels.” First, there was no national debate about whether immigrants are more dangerous than native-born citizens. Trump, it seems, just made it up.
Second, Trump’s tweet implied the suspect in the New Orleans attack was an immigrant. Spoiler alert: He wasn’t. The FBI confirmed that Shamsud Din Jabbar, the alleged driver, was born in the United States.
And then there’s Trump’s claim about crime being at an all-time high. Benen dismissed this as “plainly absurd.” In reality, crime rates, including murder rates, had been improving in recent years.
The Leadership Tests Trump Flunked
According to Benen, Trump’s post failed three major tests that any leader should pass with ease:
- Accuracy: Instead of waiting for facts, Trump shared misinformation within hours of a tragic event.
- Decency: He used a devastating attack to push a divisive, fear-driven agenda.
- Credibility: By spreading baseless claims, he reminded Americans that they couldn’t count on him for reliable information.
Why This Matters
Benen summed it up perfectly: Trump had the chance to pause, gather facts, and speak from a place of knowledge and compassion. Instead, he chose to “peddle misinformation from a position of ignorance.”
For a leader of the free world, that’s a pretty big deal. It’s not just about being right—it’s about being someone the public can trust, especially during tough times.
Looking Ahea
With this rocky start, Benen warned that the next four years could feel like a very long time. If this is the tone Trump sets as president-elect, what can Americans expect when he’s officially in charge?
Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: Leadership isn’t just about speaking. It’s about listening, learning, and leading with facts—not fear.