President Trump mocked the autopen and weighed in on Rep. Ilhan Omar during a rapid series of comments Monday, telling reporters that the Minnesota congresswoman is "a terrible person" while insisting he takes no formal position on her.
"I don't take a position," the president said. "I think she's a terrible person. I think she's a terrible congresswoman. I don't think she loves our country at all, but I don't take a position."
Trump has repeatedly targeted Omar, one of the most vocal critics of his administration in Congress, over her rhetoric and policy positions. His latest remarks drew quick reaction on social media, with Rapid Response 47 — the White House rapid response account — amplifying the clip within minutes.
'It Always Does'
Asked about the broader political moment, the president struck an optimistic tone.
"Well, we'll see. They're both a little bit off," Trump said. "You know what? Bottom line, it's going to all work out. You know why? It always does."
The White House account highlighted that line directly, quoting the president: "It's going to all work out. You know why? It always does."
Autopen Mockery
Earlier in the exchange, Trump appeared to poke fun at the controversy surrounding the autopen, the mechanical device used to sign documents in a president's absence. The president's remarks came as the White House pushes back on questions about how official documents were signed during the prior administration.
The Rapid Response account posted a clip of the moment with a laughing emoji and the caption "The best to ever do it 🤣," suggesting the president was riffing on a topic that has animated conservatives for months.
"I don't know, I don't know, Mr. Buddha Buddha," Trump said in the clip. "All right, let's get started. I don't know. I don't know. Always, always a rat."
The comment was characteristically off-the-cuff, the kind of freewheeling aside that has become a staple of Trump's interactions with the press.
The president's remarks come as his administration continues to face questions from reporters on a range of issues, and as the White House works to keep its message focused on the president's agenda.
Trump's comment that things will "all work out" was framed by the White House account as a closing note of confidence — a phrase the president has used in the past to project optimism amid political battles.
The clips were posted within minutes of one another on Monday afternoon, with the White House rapid response team moving quickly to push the president's words directly to supporters online.
