After a steady rollout of preview clips, President Donald Trump's interview with Jonathan Swan for Axios on HBO has been released and it's already gone viral.
People are hailing the interview for two primary reasons: Swan's willingness to push back against misrepresentations or outright lies from the President, and for the cinematography, which is more like a single-camera comedy series than a White House interview.
Another standout moment is an off-the-cuff statement made by Trump regarding the 150+ thousand deaths from the virus that's upended daily life in the United States.
The moment came as Swan challenged the misleading claim that the United States is in better shape than most of the world regarding the death rate.
Trump on AXIOS on HBO:
"they are dying, that's true. it is what it is."
this man is repulsive. pic.twitter.com/YGNLydS3zT
— mauro (@mauro_txt) August 4, 2020
Swan asked how Trump could say the virus is under control when a thousand Americans are dying of it each day.
Trump responded:
"They are dying. It's true. It is what it is, but that doesn't mean we aren't doing everything we can. It's under control as much as you can control it."
Trump's claim that "it is what it is" struck a sour chord online.
Over 150,000 Americans have died as a direct result of Trump and Kushner and this is Trump's answer in an Axios interview
"They are dying, that's true. it is what it is."
Really hope someone is looking into opening criminal investigations
— Olga Lautman (@olgaNYC1211) August 4, 2020
'They're dying. It is what it is.' may be the most despicable thing any president has ever said.
— Matt Rogers 🎙️ (@Politidope) August 4, 2020
Lotta anger, lotta sadness, lotta memes coming from the Swan interview. The biggest takeaway is Trump's five most damning words: "It is what it is."
IT IS WHAT IT IS. That's his official position on 516 9/11s. That's all he has. Pathetic and sad.
— Slade (@Slade) August 4, 2020
The man said “it is what it is" in regards to 156 thousand dead Americans and although there are lots of other reasons to vote him out, that should be enough.
— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) August 4, 2020
Over 1,000 Americans dying from #COVID19 each day. Trump's reply: “It is what it is."
Despicable. Public health scientists wanna puke when we hear that callous rhetoric. pic.twitter.com/n1LjzX8MHy
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) August 4, 2020
Some thought the dismissal would make a fitting campaign slogan for the President's reelection.
Which is the better 2020 Campaign slogan for @realDonaldTrump?
"I don't take responsibility at all."
"It is what it is."
Or are there other quotes of his we should consider?
— Augie Ray (@augieray) August 4, 2020
"It is what it is." should be his campaign slogan. What a pos.
— Andrew (@BoothNinja) August 4, 2020
New Trump campaign slogan:
'It is what it is' https://t.co/wdgVzNFrx2
— Marc Cevasco (@mcevasco) August 4, 2020
The hashtag #ItIsWhatItIs soon began trending on Twitter.
#ItIsWhatItIs
The illegitimate criminal @POTUS, #DonaldTrump has done it. He "shot" 158,000 citizens on 5th Avenue and the @SenateGOP laugh and say, to the grief stricken Americans, moving along, nothing to see here while we lose our jobs, homes, and ability to feed our kids.😡 https://t.co/qMfO0l1yEq
— Diane Harris (@DhLadylaw) August 4, 2020
Sorry @realDonaldTrump, but you're going to go to jail for bank and insurance fraud. It is what it is. #itiswhatitis
— Hamish Mitchell (@H_MitchellPhoto) August 4, 2020
I like Presidents who don't think 158,000 dead Americans "is what it is"#itiswhatitis
— Warren Twocock (@realtworoosters) August 4, 2020
You can watch the full interview between Trump and Swan here.
@DonaldJTrumpJr/X
@DogRightGirl/X