Why Tom Brady's 'gentle' roast of Trump at Biden's White House was actually 'deeply vicious'
President Biden hosted the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the White House on Tuesday, both Biden and star quarterback Tom Brady "wearing sunglasses and grins," Annie Linskey writes at The Washington Post. "It was in many ways the most traditional of presidential rituals — the visit of a championship team to the White House, allowing athletic stars and political leaders to bask in each other's all-American glow" — and in this case "the very point was to be normal, traditional, even dull."
At the same time, "it was a scene straight out of a Donald Trump nightmare, and quite possibly the worst day of Donald Trump's life," Jonathan Chait writes at New York. "To grasp why such an anodyne scene would produce such a wounding effect on a man who has endured misfortunes such as bankruptcy, losing a presidential election, two impeachments, and innumerable legal setbacks, one needs to understand his peculiar psychology. Here, in rough order, is Trump's hierarchy of needs: 1. To be treated as a winner; 2. To pal around with celebrities; 3. To not be laughed at; 4. To gain the specific approval of Tom Brady."
In Trump's mind, he and Brady are both "Winners," Chait explains. But now, after "avoiding Trump's White House on a flimsy pretext" following his 2017 Super Bowl victory, Brady "went to Biden's" and "used his appearance to mock the candidate he defeated." Brady made two jokes at Trump's expense, one about Trump's refusal to accept his defeat and the second about being called "Sleepy Tom" after forgetting what down it was during a game.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
While the "Sleepy Tom" joke "sounds more gentle than the first joke, it is in fact much more deeply vicious," Chait argues. "In Trump's mind, Biden is a pathetic loser, and he is the winner. Like Tom Brady. Yet here was Brady, inverting the whole hierarchy. Biden is the winner, like Brady, and Winners now are guys who get called sleepy by the Losers for making a small mistake on the way to their triumph."
Being mocked by Tom Brady wasn't the only reason Trump might have preferred to avoid the news on Tuesday. His longtime friend and adviser, Thomas Barrack, was arrested for allegedly being an unregistered foreign agent, and Jeff Bezos, the much-wealthier nemesis he frequently attacked, flew to space and, upon exiting his rocket, declared it his "best day ever."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Today's political cartoons - March 17, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - history repeating, the Pope's white flag, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Derelict homes, Welsh mines, and vinyl
Podcast What can we do about abandoned property? Are old mines still doing us harm? And what do LP sales tell us about the economy?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Dresden: on the trail of a Romantic icon in Germany
the week recommends The Saxon city celebrates the 250th birthday of Caspar David Friedrich this year
By The Week UK Published
-
Trump's presidential run: a bad bet for Republicans?
Talking Point The GOP is taking a 'big gamble' on former president's 2024 White House bid
By The Week UK Published
-
Russians start to vote in election Putin will win
speed read Putin's opponents are mostly in prison, exiled or dead
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Violent resistance has failed Palestinians'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Schumer slams Netanyahu, calls for new leader
speed read The senator — one of Israel's most avid supporters — criticized the country's handling of the Gaza war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden's State of the Union gave Democrats hope but not much else
Talking Points The president was forceful and feisty in his address to congress — so why hasn't it moved the electoral needle?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Grandstanding about the existential threat climate change poses'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
South Dakota governor sued over Texas dentist promo
speed read Gov. Kristi Noem posted a video testimonial that may have been an "undisclosed advertisement"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Hur defends description of Biden's 'poor memory'
speed read Former special counsel Robert Hur defended disparaging remarks made about Biden's age in his report
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published