Trump’s Rambling Speeches Highlighted as Media ‘Sane-Washes’ Him, Critics Say

Donald Trump is increasingly delivering incoherent responses to policy questions, while the media is failing to adequately cover his behavior, according to a panel on MSNBC’s Ayman show over the weekend. The discussion centered on how the former president’s recent speeches and interviews have featured vague, confusing answers on key legislative issues, leaving many questioning his ability to articulate clear policy positions.

During the segment, host Ayman Mohyeldin played several clips of Trump giving what was described as “word salads” when asked about specific policies. One clip, which has gone viral, shows Trump suggesting that tariffs could be the solution to the rising costs of child care. His response was a disjointed stream of thoughts: “Well, I will do that and we’re sitting down, you know, I was, uh, somebody, we had Sen.

Marco Rubio and my daughter Ivanka were so, uh, impactful on that issue, it’s a very important issue, but I think when you talk about the kind of numbers that I’m talking about that because childcare is childcare is couldn’t, you know, is something you have to have it in this country, you have to have it.”

The clip left many scratching their heads, and the panel criticized the media for not holding Trump accountable for such statements. Reporter Molly Jong-Fast referenced independent journalist Aaron Rupar’s comment that the media is “sane-washing” Trump—presenting him in a way that makes his erratic behavior seem more palatable or normal than it is. This sentiment was echoed by Tara Setmayer, a senior advisor for the anti-Trump group The Lincoln Project and a former Republican congressional staffer.

Setmayer didn’t mince words, calling Trump an “absolute lunatic” and stating that his recent speeches and posts on Truth Social have been increasingly erratic. She pointed to his rambling speeches as further evidence that the media needs to do more to challenge his statements and highlight his inability to give clear, coherent answers to important policy questions.

The panel’s discussion highlighted the growing concern among critics that Trump’s rhetoric is becoming more disconnected from reality, yet the media is not adequately addressing the issue. As Setmayer remarked, “We have a former president who is clearly unraveling, and the media needs to stop giving him a pass.”