The image of Trump hawking Goya products from the Resolute desk

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

has bothered me a lot, and I wanted to see why.

These pictures are of presidents sitting behind their desk in the Oval Office. I wanted to start with Truman, who was president when I was born. These are the men who have occupied the office of president during my 71 years on earth. They are the men who shaped my expectations of any man or woman who set in the Big Chair:

Truman


Ike


JFK


LBJ


Nixon talking with Apollo 11 astronauts on the moon.


Ford


Carter


Reagan


Bush the Elder


Cinton


Bush the Younger


Obama


Each of these men (even Nixon) were profoundly aware of the significance and history of the desk they were sitting behind. (Most of the time it was the Resolute desk.)

And then there's the Reality Show President, who views it as a prop in his show.


I think this image sums up Donald Trump and how he views the presidency. It tells me why I carry a barf bag in my pocket to be ready for the daily insult on reality and the rule of law.

[leftieNanner]

1. And all of those previous Presidents

were actually working, not just posing for a photo op. I have never seen any papers on that desk when he has been sitting at it.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. That's exactly what I've seen, as well. Every POTUS has work being done on his desk

Trump never has anything, except now he has cans of beans!

[RussellCattle]

31. I'd say some of the images are truly candid shots of presidents at work, but really....

.....some of them are carefully crafted and staged shots. Look at the photo of Reagan and tell me that the photographer just happen to catch that perfect image.

[LuckyLib]

32. Straight out of 20th Century Fox staging division.

He (Nancy) didn’t miss a trick.

[sop]

2. Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "The buck stops here."

[gristy]

4. Outstanding. Thanks for pulling all those together.

For MAGATs, sort of like "one of these things is not like the others". They no doubt they can pick it out, and no doubt they are resolute in their admiration of the one that is different. "He's just like me!" Also, "No smartypants is ever going to get my admiration!"

[customerserviceguy]

5. Quite a collection of photographs

But what else would we expect of a Cheap Executive whose major claim to fame is that of reality-show host?

[Blue Owl]

6. Gaudy. Cheap. Sold-out. Corporate whore. Just a few words that come to mind...

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

7. A great photo lineup and damnation of the Agolf Hitler... but can someone..

... photo-shop in Russian souvenirs for sale instead of the Goya... Stoli Vodkas, full & miniature... a vase of little Russian Flags.. Sigh

[Alex4Martinez]

8. It's a Mad Magazine cover of Trump, right? They're SO FUNNY!!!

[struggle4progress]

9. Goya must have paid handsomely for that ad

[stevesinpa]

26. all Goya paid

was some compliments to the slug from the goya CEO.

[flying rabbit]

10. Kinda lays it out there.

well done.

[babylonsister]

11. Whoa! What a compilation! Thanks so much; I love it! nt

[canetoad]

15. I would have chosen the one

Where Obama's feet were on the desk, but this one is fine.

[3catwoman3]

12. This picture of Donnie Dipshit's leering face is...

...beyond disgusting.

This man has no dignity, no decency, no sense of decorum.

I want to bean him with one of those cans of beans.

[tulipsandroses]

13. 30-40 years from now, how do I explain that Goya photograph to the younger generation in my family?

Some day my grand kids, nieces, nephews , great grand kids will ask why did the president have cans of beans on his desk?

[Caliman73]

36. Easy enough...

Back in the 2010's the country went through some really difficult times. Older rich White men were really upset that the Democratic Party had elected the first Black man and he had been a successful President despite their best efforts. Then the Democratic Party had selected a really accomplished woman, Hillary Clinton to become the first Woman to be President in 240+ years. They couldn't have that so they chose the worst, most incompetent, selfish fake Older rich White man to run against her, and they cheated with the help of Russia, to have him elected.

He was the worst president in a long long time. He stole money from the people, he did bad things to the countries that were our allies, and really liked the worst dictators on the planet. This horrible man tried to sell things for and promote people he liked. The leader of this company called Goya said things about him that sounded really nice, but were lies and that is why he disgraced the Oval office to try to sell their products.

[yonder]

14. As photographs go, I thought the one with Reagan was the best. Great lighting.

In comparison the Goya one stands out not only for how crass it is, but for the lighting too. I've not noticed before but it's like there is a whole other bank of too bright florescent lights in the ceiling compounding the garishness of the whole stinking mess.

[dweller]

18. and i thought

it was the creepiest

✌🏼

[yonder]

20. creepy subject for sure.

[Princess Turandot]

19. That one was taken by the incomparable Pete Souza, President Obama's lead photographer..

He was also on the White House photography staff when Reagan was president.

He took some very fine photos of him. Like Obama, Reagan was also very photogenic (everything else about him notwithstanding.)

[yonder]

41. He's taken so many good ones of Obama,

I can't be surprised that this one is his work also.

[Dem2theMax]

25. I thought the Reagan photograph was really well done too.

Beautiful lighting. Even more so when you enlarge the photo.

But as for for subject matter, give me President Obama any day of the week.

Trump just looks like what he is, snake oil salesman.

[Poiuyt]

33. I liked the Reagan portrait too, though the photographer obviously staged the lighting

Of course, I like everything you do!

[Dem2theMax]

37. Hi friend!

[central scrutinizer]

27. The little plaque in St. Ronnie's picture

“There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit” Not exactly the creed that BMI 45 follows

[yonder]

38. That it is not.

[Cha]

16. It's Pissed me OFF, too! TY for doing all this, LLiPS!

I call him Treasonous trump & BEANS now!

[dweller]

17. the Lincoln Project

should work that into a seamless ad ..

✌🏼

[MustLoveBeagles]

21. Nice collection of photos except for the last one

What an idiot he is.

As a dog lover I think I like President Clinton's photo the best. I wonder if that was Buddy.

[peggysue2]

22. Trump has demeaned the Office of the Presidency

From Day 1.

But this? It's the perfect image for the con-artist/clown sitting behind the Resolute Desk, a grifter pushing product like a cheap door-to-door salesman.

The WH will need fumigating at the end of this.

Infuriating and I believe purposely humiliating to the country that refuses to love him enough or bow low enough.

Enough already! Show this demented, gauche imposter the door.

[lastlib]

23. The expression on Cockwomble's face is almost satanic.

Unadulterated, unmitigated, infinte EVIL.

[keithbvadu2]

24. Is the goya picture real or photoshopped?

[EarlG]

39. Sadly, it is real

https://people.com/politics/donald-trump-posts-oval-office-goya-photo/

[keithbvadu2]

40. Thanks. I had seen both statements. It could only be real with the Trump mob.

[BigmanPigman]

28. FDR's desktop...

FDR Library (@FDRLibrary) Tweeted:
To learn more about #FDR's desk and some of the items on it, watch this episode of #AtHomeWithTheRoosevelts featuring Curator Herman Eberhardt: https://t.co/QJ1Rdi6gz8

Link to tweet

?s=20

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

30. My favorite is the one of Buddy looking over President Clinton's shoulder

as he's talking on the telephone. It captures that bond dogs have with their owners.

[Totally Tunsie]

34. Chump even fails at shilling beans.

First visual rule: Make sure the product faces the camera properly.

[GusBob]

35. Great post

I was never one for boycotts
This one is easy