‘The tribute was especially unusual, since Trump, who has never owned a pet, is clearly no fan of man’s best friend.’
Judith Miller writing for City Journal, Dec. 2:
[President Trump] participated in a Rose Garden ceremony honoring Conan, the hero canine who helped trap and kill Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The tribute was especially unusual, since Trump, who has never owned a pet, is clearly no fan of man’s best friend. Former Republican rival Marco Rubio was “sweating like a dog” during a 2016 presidential debate, candidate Trump asserted. He has suggested that a female challenger was “barking like a dog,” said that Republican challenger Carly Fiorina had a “face like a dog,” and described a cabinet secretary being “fired like a dog.” So it was surprising to see Trump hailing Conan on the White House lawn as “brilliant,” “smart,” “excellent,” “fantastic,” and an “incredible fighter.” Trump awarded Conan a medal and a plaque for his outstanding service. What the Belgian Malinois did not get from POTUS was a treat or even a head pat; Trump left the touchy-feely part of the ceremony to Vice President Mike Pence, a self-described “pet person.”
The significance of the Conan tribute: it’s a reminder of how closely Trump follows opinion polls. Half of all American households have dogs. And last week, Trump signed into law another measure aimed at pleasing pet-lovers—the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, which makes mistreatment of animals a federal crime punishable with stiff fines and up to seven years in jail. . . . Trump won praise not only from animal-welfare groups but also from . . . the National Sheriffs’ Association and the Fraternal Order of Police. Spokesmen for both endorsed the measure, citing a “documented connection” between animal cruelty and other violent crimes.
This piece originally appeared in The Wall Street Journal (paywall)
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Judith Miller is a contributing editor of City Journal and adjunct fellow at the Manhattan Institute. Follow her on Twitter here.
This piece originally appeared in The Wall Street Journal