CNN Panel Tackles New Report on Trump’s Racist Talk: ‘Not Shocking That He Would Speak This Way’

During a discussion on Friday, a CNN panel talked about the impact of Vanity Fair‘s latest report detailing racist statements that President Donald Trump allegedly made according to former Trump fixer Michael Cohen and how the president saying racist things is unlikely, in their estimation, to be a huge deal.

Republican strategist Kevin Madden got the ball rolling by noting it is not inconsistent with things Trump might say but noted that it is unlikely to make many waves especially given Trump’s track record.

“You know, if you consider the fact that the president has made very outrageous comments earlier, using phrases like ‘S-hole,’ it’s not inconsistent with some things he may have said. I think what’s interesting about it, very troubling charges. Very explosive, you know, accusations. But I think the interesting thing is, will it matter?” Madden said. “Like, will people even think that the president couldn’t have said this or normally it would be a huge — huge controversy. And could potentially crater his support amongst even his most ardent defenders. I expect it probably won’t have much of an impact.”

Neera Tanden, president of Center for American Progress, then suggested the fact that the Vanity Fair will not make an impact “just means that his supporters think he’s racist and still support him. Which is an indictment of those supporters who would believe it.”

Then piling on, she said this: “I think I’ve had my ears open to this president for two years. But even in the last week, I think it seems pretty obvious that it’s not — it’s not shocking. And what I find shocking in the article is the White House didn’t even bother to deny it. Because it’s totally credible that this president would attack a group that he doesn’t like. It’s credible that he would attack Latinos. It’s credible he would attack women, African-Americans. Because we’ve all seen him do it every single day. And it’s pathetic that more people aren’t outraged.”

Host Jake Tapper then noted that the White House actually has not responded to comment yet, which is not the same as failing to deny it as talk about Trump’s racist statements continued on.

CNN political analyst Kirsten Powers, meanwhile, said these comments are clearly shocking, but that “it’s not shocking that he would speak this way because of all the things that he has already said.”

Watch above, via CNN.

[image via screengrab]

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