Welcome to the Jim Acosta Morning Memo on a Wednesday morning after Trump went on a demented — even for him — social media bender on his way to another weird rally where he gave out live pardons and mused about asses again.
Wellness Check, Please: Trump showed some deeply concerning social media behavior during the long trip to Alaska on Tuesday. In among the steady stream of AI slop, ridiculous hype videos, and propaganda ads was a series of animal-themed posts.
First, he posted the real video of a 23-year-old man who was killed last weekend when he entered a tiger enclosure in the UK, captioning it “Don’t ever mess with nature! President DJT”
Then, he posted a bizarre compilation of apparent AI slop of people being mauled by big cats.
Beast Mode: Then, Clementine Caligula posted a stunning AI video of himself in the tiger enclosure.
This man is extremely unwell, and this post alone should have had people clamoring for his removal.
Flack-Tastic: But before all that, new Trump propaganda flack Katie Zacharia took to the podium for her first briefing as press secretary. It did not go great.
Her opening remarks, which were chock full of lies, were delivered in the style of a third-grader reading a fourth-grader’s book report for the first time.
Then it was on to the briefest of briefings, and her first newsy question, from Fox’s Peter Doocy.
PETER DOOCY: And I want to ask a policy question. Has the U.S. stopped sharing intel with Ukraine?
PRESS SECRETARY ZACHARIA: I’ll have to get back to you on that.
Wow. SWING and a miss.
Then, with little fanfare, Zacharia dropped this bomb when she was asked about the fate of Kimberly Guilfoyle after her ridiculous American Express-themed scandal.
REPORTER: On Kimberly Guilfoyle: the Daily Mail has been reporting on her since last year. The President said yesterday to reporters that he is considering firing her. Do you know a timeline for that, and also potentially who could be on the shortlist to replace her if he does?
PRESS SECRETARY ZACHARIA: We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign. She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well.
More on Kim in a second, but Zacharia made one more very telling gaffe when she fielded a softball question about work-life balance, and mixed up her husband with her president. Yikes!
Honestly, that little laughing acknowledgment was probably the best thing about this briefing, which ended after that softball.
Bar? None: But things weren’t QUITE over for Zacharia yet. She was with Trump minutes later when he gaggled with reporters during his departure for Alaska, and reporters challenged her claims about practicing law.
Check out Trump’s reaction when he hears her respond to questions about where she passed the bar.
REPORTER: Mr. President, where did she pass the bar exam? She’s an attorney. Where did she pass the bar exam? Which state?
TRUMP: Which state?
ZACHARIA: When I moved to China.
It sure looks to me like Trump was finding out for the first time that his new press secretary has some janky credentials. China doesn’t let foreign nationals take the bar exam.
NOPE: MS NOW’s Chris Hayes and Jen Psaki were so stunned by the performance that they may have gone a little overboard.
Guys. No. We love you but no, we’re not doing that.
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Kim Kiss-Off:
