Why didn't Trump bring the families of the hostages to greet them?

[procon]

Trump's is exploiting the hostages in his staged photo op at Andrews Air Force Base, making them into stage props to glorify himself. His White House stage crew choreographed the event, but no one taught to fly their families in to reunite them all?

They thought of everything else, even "hoisting a giant American flag between two fire trucks on the tarmac", and bussing in the complaisant press corp to witness Trump's made-for-TV infomercial and serve as hapless punching bags for a few presidential potshots.

Trump posed for the most photogenic shots with the hostages, but where were their families? Is Trump so petty that he couldn't bring himself to share the limelight? Well, of course he is, but he still found time to tweet. In the wee hours of the morning he even hauled in Melania, but no families were present to greet those men. Trump looked magnanimous as he accepted their tearful praises while back home reporters were dutifulling recording the sobbing gratitude of the absent families


The three men were finally taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. And the news reports say they will be evaluated today and "receive medical treatment before being reunited with their families." Finally.

[MineralMan]

1. It never occurred to him. Besides, he doesn't like Korean Americans

who were captured. If you notice, he kept his distance from them as much as possible.

They're being debriefed at Walter Reed. Eventually, their families will be allowed to see them, but probably not right away.

[Flaleftist]

4. Does this debriefing process include

things about their incarceration that they will be asked to not talk about? Could that be a reason for not including their family?

[MineralMan]

6. Yes, of course. They will be advised not to say anything

that embarrasses N. Korea or points out just how awful it is. There's a negotiation going on. I don't expect to see those three making media appearances.

Threats will be made, no doubt. Intimidation will be the order of the day.

[LeftInTX]

9. I'm surprised the president greeted them before they were debriefed

But, it's Trump and he's gotta have his show!

[snowybirdie]

2. Loved how he touted

his television ratings of the homecoming

[procon]

5. Yeah, that was the ONLY reason that would make Trump drag his big butt out of bed

in the middle of the night. He lives for the publicity and couldn't care less about those men.

[BarbaRosa]

3. To many people in the picture,

who are not him.

[sarah FAILIN]

7. I was told..

2 of them don't even live in the states.

[procon]

8. But they're still US citizens (at least that's the truth of the moment) so it doesn't

really matter where they live, yeah? Put them on a plane and reunite them with the men.