Choice
Trump complains that the media choose unflattering photos of him – he complained about it in that interview with David Muir of ABC – yet he chose this photo to tweet:
"@romoabcnews: .@DavidMuir first @POTUS interview since taking office. Tonight on @ABCWorldNews @ABC2020 tonight. pic.twitter.com/I4Vz1mRdBK"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2017
Hate. him.
But Trump considers that flattering (which I suspect is your point).
Who is the manliest man in this picture, measured by Trump standards?
He’s in the center of the frame. He is (or appears to be) taller than the only other man in the picture. He’s talking, and the other man is listening intently. He’s gesturing forcefully, while the other man (a member of the hated media) stands passively, looking up at him. Donald’s extra-long power penis — I mean, tie — is clearly visible, while the dumb loser media wimp is wearing some nondescript dark tie.
Somehow I doubt we’re going to see a lot of playful photos from the White House photographer like the ones of Obama posing in a tiara with Girl Scouts.
Unattributed exchange from the early days of photography:
“Sir, you have made me look like an assassin!”
“That is hardly my fault.”
He looks like he’s posing for a Warner Brothers cartoon…Foghorn Leghorn, probably
@Sceechy:
I’ve no doubt at all that you’re right about why and how this photo was chosen. That’s what I saw first in the photograph, too. But let’s play a game. The instinct is to begin by looking at Trump and I for one saw exactly what you described. But if you begin by looking at the other guy, the conclusion can be quite different.
There are lots of things to note but which guy looks confident and still while the other looks red-faced, agitated and waving his blurry hands around?
I think your assessment is spot on and that they chose that photo for those reasons. But I find it interesting that we can all find polarised conclusions depending – partly – on which figure we look at first.
It reminds me of close-up photos of people smiling. Sometimes the smile seems genuine no matter how long you look at it, sometimes it seems to melt off the smiler’s face in a matter of seconds.
This photo could be interpreted either way but you’re surely right that it was selected by Trump or his people for exactly one repulation.
latsot@5,
Oh yeah, absolutely. I think Trump’s definition of “makes me look good” isn’t the same as mine or yours or many other people’s.
It’s like looking at some people’s online dating profiles and photos and realizing, “wait, you thought THAT would make you seem more appealing?”
But just look at that shiny hat!!!1! Is that impressive, or brilliant?
And guess which of these guys has trained martial arts …