“President Donald Trump on Tuesday reacted to the death of veteran journalist Cokie Roberts by saying ‘she never treated me nicely’ before extending his well wishes to her family. ‘I never met her. She never treated me nicely. But I would like to wish her family well. She was a professional, and I respect professionals,’ Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to California. ‘ respect you guys a lot, you people a lot. She was a real professional. Never treated me well, but I certainly respect her as a professional.’”

CNN

When veteran journalist Cokie Roberts died, Trump could have used the occasion of her passing to momentarily pause his never-ending war with the press and honor the trailblazer who inspired generations of women to pursue careers in political journalism at a time when the procession was dominated by men.

The stable genius could have killed two birds with one stone: Improved his dismal standing with journalists and women from all walks of life.

But when Trump reacted publicly to the death of Cokie, he wasn’t thinking about her surviving family members, women journalists or the media in general. The thought of uttering comforting words didn’t enter his mind, instead he made it all about himself: I never met her. She never treated ME nicely. He grudgingly admitted that she was a real professional, and that he respected her as a professional. That’s almost as vague and meaningless as saying: She was a real human being and I respected her as a human being.

If you don’t have something nice to say about a person, keep your piehole closed. But Trump can’t help but give his two cents worth about anything involving celebrities and prominent individuals.

When Trump finally bites the dust, I will channel him when writing his obituary:

I never met Trump. He never treated me nicely. But I would like to wish his family and supporters well. He was a racist, a homophobe, a buffoon and a misogynist, but I respect the fact that he was a human being, and all of us succumb to death. I respect Satan for welcoming him to the fiery pit.