Donald Trump today attempted to normalise foreign interference in US elections.
The US president told ABC that if a foreign power offered him dirt on a political opponent in the 2020 election campaign, he would take it, saying:
There's nothing wrong with listening...I think I'd take it
When told FBI chief Christopher Wray says such information should be handed over to the bureau, Mr Trump, who was looking particularly orange at the time, said flatly:
The FBI director is wrong.
Mark Hamill was on hand with a quick history lesson, offered with the sage-like wisdom we've come to expect from the man who played Luke Skywalker.
John Adams wrote Thomas Jefferson on December 6, 1787, about American elections, “You are apprehensive of foreign i… https://t.co/YqPTgD9mnZ— Mark Hamill (@Mark Hamill) 1560399560
While comparing Trump's presidential demeanour to leaders past is pretty low-hanging fruit at this point, the Star Wars actor wasn't the only one horrified by President Trump's statement.
@OceanGirl790 @HamillHimself And you cant wake up from it, and if you do. Your really still in the nightmare— FJ Powers (@FJ Powers) 1560400860
@dlever21 @JMASmith2484 @HamillHimself Still not enough https://t.co/KnTDVJFqEt— Allison Maruska (@Allison Maruska) 1560400283
@HamillHimself Don't worry about it, it's not collusion it's "oppo research". So it's fine!!— Dan (@Dan) 1560400314
Or by Hamill's statement.
@CoreyEvans74 @HamillHimself Makes me gag— Dawn4Dogs (@Dawn4Dogs) 1560428268
Others were inevitably on hand with Star Wars-related jokes.
@HamillHimself Trump sent a message in that interview of “Help me Putin your my only hope!”— Kevin Durrell (@Kevin Durrell) 1560402650
@HamillHimself @Ardamora I am with you Master Jedi. We need a new Rebal Alliance to face this Sith Lord— Stephen Rees Richardson (@Stephen Rees Richardson) 1560402970
@HamillHimself Not to forget, "These are not the polling results you're looking for." #TrumpMindTrick— Cindy Scott 🏳️🌈🇺🇲🏴🦮⚓🎸🏎🎥 (@Cindy Scott 🏳️🌈🇺🇲🏴🦮⚓🎸🏎🎥) 1560435792
You'd be forgiven for thinking it's a bit rich for Americans to be holding their noses at the thought of foreign intervention.
At this point, it's almost easier to count the nations whose politics haven't been meddled with by the United States.
That list potentially grows smaller by the day, given Mike Pompeo's recently leaked comments about Jeremy Corbyn.