CNN Goes Metaphor-Mad Over Trump: ‘Kidnapper and Hero, Arsonist Putting Out Fire’

CNN went absolutely metaphor-mad on Monday morning in its trashing of President Trump’s handling of the Covid-relief package. During the six-am hour of New Day, Toluse Olorunnipa of the Washington Post kicked off the metaphor-palooza by describing “a hostage negotiation, where President Trump wants to be both the kidnapper, and the hero who comes in to save the hostage.”

Co-host Alisyn Camerota loved that: “such a great point: the arsonist putting out the fire.”

It went from there, including Camerota gloatingly quoting from the New York Post front-page editorial in which the paper called on Trump to give up on the “cheering for an undemocratic coup” and focus on his presidential duties: “You will be remembered as the anarchist holding the match . . . the King Lear of Mar-a-Lago.”

Margaret Talev of Axios also got into the metaphorical act, speaking of Republicans “showing their cards,” and everyone being aware of “the elephant in the room.”

Substitute co-host Jim Sciutto, not to be left out, spoke of “guns-and-butter” issues, and “pie-in-the-sky.”

A good time was had by all, with the squadron of similes sent off to wage war against the president.

CNN’s metaphor monstrosity was sponsored in part by Chewy, Clear Choice, Casper and Loan Depot.

Here’s the transcript.

CNN
New Day
12/28/20
6:16 am ET

TOLUSE OLORUNNIPA: This is sort of like a hostage negotiation, where President Trump is both the kidnapper, and he wants to be the hero who comes in and saves the hostage at the end.

. . . 

ALISYN CAMEROTA: It’s such a great point. I mean, it’s the arsonist putting out the fire . . . Captain Chaos is basically at it again.

. . .

MARGARET TALEV: The Republicans at this point are basically showing their cards.

. . . 

JIM SCIUTTO: It’s a guns-and-butter issue.

. . . 

SCIUTTO: How much in lock-step the Post has been with this president.

. . . 

OLORUNNIPA: The president is throwing a tantrum because he lost the election.

. . . 

CAMEROTA: That will be how you will be remembered: not as a revolutionary, but as the anarchist holding the match . . . The King Lear of Mar-a-Lago.

. . . 

TALEV: This elephant in the room that we all know is out there, which is that there are 20-some days until the inauguration.

. . . 

SCIUTTO: Given the last four years, that sounds like some pie-in-the-sky hope.