Trump Reflects on World History During NYT Interview: 'Same Thing Happened to Hitler'

[DonViejo]

by Jon Levine | 6:30 am, July 20th, 2017

Obviously that Donald Trump – New York Times interview published last night was nuts.

Lost amid a lot of the clammer and bombshells, however, was a curious nugget when the president waded into world history. When reporters asked about his recent trip to Paris, Trump digressed into some analysis of European military history, reflecting on the doomed forays of Napoleon and Hitler into Russia.

The historiography appears to have been sparked by Trump’s visit to Napoleon’s tomb in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Per NYT:

“They froze to death. How many times has Russia been saved by the weather?” Trump remarked. “Same thing happened to Hitler.”

TRUMP: Well, Napoleon finished a little bit bad. But I asked that. So I asked the president, so what about Napoleon? He said: “No, no, no. What he did was incredible. He designed Paris.” (garbled) The street grid, the way they work, you know, the spokes. He did so many things even beyond. And his one problem is he didn’t go to Russia that night because he had extracurricular activities, and they froze to death. How many times has Russia been saved by the weather? (garbled)

(crosstalk/unintelligible)

TRUMP: Same thing happened to Hitler. Not for that reason, though. Hitler wanted to consolidate. He was all set to walk in. But he wanted to consolidate, and it went and dropped to 35 degrees below zero, and that was the end of that army.

(crosstalk)

But the Russians have great fighters in the cold. They use the cold to their advantage. I mean, they’ve won five wars where the armies that went against them froze to death. (crosstalk) It’s pretty amazing.

So, we’re having a good time. The economy is doing great.

more
http://www.mediaite.com/online/trump-reflects-on-world-history-during-nyt-interview-same-thing-happened-to-hitler/

[jberryhill]

1. "he didnt go to Russia that night because he had extracurricular activities"

Can someone take a stab at whatever was on Trump's mind there?

[HipChick]

2. A Bit Of How's Ya Father?

[panader0]

3. In the midst of that mess, that remark jumped out at me too.

[ProfessorGAC]

4. I Don't Get it Either

That night? What was he supposed to do, fly there in 1812?

[jberryhill]

8. It may be a weird self-reference

The only thing Trump really enjoys talking about is himself.

Perhaps Napoleon enjoyed "you're-a-peein" adventures as well.

[Cracklin Charlie]

10. He thinks he conquered Paris last week.

Hail, Trump?

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Superb, JB!

And, you are completely correct.

[jberryhill]

12. "He would have conquered Russia if he was not screwing around with prostitutes."

There's no other way to understand it, given the common usage of "extracurricular activities" to refer to extramarital activities.

[SweetieD]

5. I read this 3 times and still have no clue what he is trying to say.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

6. You never read about how Napoleon was a member of his school's model fighting robot club?

And that he had to miss a scheduled conquest of Russia because of the Regional Semifinals?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

7. Did he start it off by saying "Most people don't know this....".? Which

pretty much means "I didn't know this.".

[fleur-de-lisa]

9. Comedy Central should develop a show called "Trump History".

The basic premise woud be that it's a take on Comedy Central's show "Drunk History", but instead of inebriated people explaining great moments in history, a stone-cold sober Trump would be the narrator. Il Douche is such a moron, his historical fabrications would probably be way funnier than what any drunk person could come up with.

[BSdetect]

13. The babbling baboon knows sweet fuck all.

[Tracer]

14. Napoleon designed Paris? Huh?

It was Haussman, not Napoleon I.

Ignoramus has no grasp of history.

[kskiska]

15. Macron took him to Napoleon's tomb

and most likely had to explain who Napoleon was. What Trump said was how his mind processed it all.