It wasn’t quite the Cena Trimalchionis, but the robust, non-sissy feast that the President of the United States laid on for the Clemson Tigers — the college football team that just won the national championship — would in its own way have been the envy of Petronius’s diners. No larks’ tongues, but plenty of Big Macs, Whoppers, French fries, and pizza, all served up on gleaming White House china with the condiment proffered from silver bowls.

Donald Trump paid for the repast himself — 1,000 hamburgers he said at one point, though fact checkers at the publicity arm of the Democratic National Committee said that there were probably no more than 300. Since FBI agents were in attendance, the matter was being referred to Special Counsel Robert Mueller for investigation.

The unusual catering arrangements were sparked by the make-believe government ‘shutdown.’ The usual staff were unavailable to perform their duty; the Democrats among them were presumably on a fact-finding mission to inspect lanky blondes in bikinis in Puerto Rico and other sunny climes.

_____

More like this: Follow Spectator USA on Twitter





_____

The president joked that he had thought about having the First and Second Ladies prepare salad, but he knew that the Clemson athletes did not use Gillette products (in about a month no man who is not an interior decorator will) and that they would prefer burgers to tofu and spouts. Note that he was admirably ecumenical in his choice of victuals. Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Burger King; ‘If it’s American’, Trump said, ‘I like it.’ Looking over the the beefcakes for whom he ordered the beef, the President observed that ‘We have some very large people that like eating, so I think we’re going to have a little fun.’

Fun? Fun? Did the President of the United States talk about having fun? I don’t know which offended the guardians of public virtue more, Donald Trump’s invocation of an activity they haven’t indulged in since grade school or his jest that Melania and Mrs Pence might have prepared salads for the athletes. THAT’S NOT FUNNY! One of CNN’s resident harridans called the remark ‘appalling’ and went on to wonder whether the President would not be satisfied until he had alienated every Republican woman voter in the country.

In fact, honey, he is just trying, and succeeding, in driving voters like you — all the losers that actually pay attention to CNN — bonkers.

Some facts: Trump’s burger fête was great theater. It was a magnanimous thing to do. It was a politically savvy thing to do. The president not only ate a bunch of burgers, he just ate the Left’s lunch, again.

The serious point was articulated by Sarah Sanders, the President’s press secretary. ‘Because the Democrats refuse to negotiate on border security, much of the residence staff at the White House is furloughed – so the President is personally paying for the event to be catered with some of everyone’s favorite fast foods.’

Two more facts. This heart-warming (though possibly indigestion causing) episode demonstrates once again how nimble the President is on his feet. He thinks quickly. The White House cooks are unavailable. He wants to do something for a great college football team. He improvises, brilliantly.

The second fact is that the Left’s yapping, hysterical reaction to the event—‘Sexist!’ ‘Unpresidential!’ ‘Unhealthy!’ — reminds most of America just how out of touch with most of America they are. There is a menopause of the spirit as well as of the body, and the Left is deep into heat-flash and night-sweats territory.