GOP uses image Trump said traumatized his young son to raise money

Trump and his wife, Melania, said an image of Kathy Griffin traumatized their young son Barron — but that hasn’t stopped the Republican National Committee (RNC) from using it to raise cash.

The RNC released a web video called “The Left in 2018: Unhinged.” As the poster frame for the video — the image used on YouTube to represent its contents — is video from a photo shoot done by comedian Kathy Griffin holding a replica of Trump’s head.

The image also appears a few seconds into the video to bolster the RNC’s allegation that Democratic criticism of Trump has gone too far. Of course, the video doesn’t mention Trump’s violent or racist rhetoric.

When the Griffin photo first came to light, Trump said it was “sick,” and complained, “My children, especially my 11 year old son, Barron, are having a hard time with this.”

In a press statement, Melania Trump called the photo “very disturbing.” She also said, “When you consider some of the atrocities happening in the world today, a photo opportunity like this is simply wrong and makes you wonder about the mental health of the person who did it.”

Sources from within the Trump family told TMZ that Trump’s son “panicked” and yelled “Mommy, Mommy!” when he saw the photo. One source claimed, “He’s 11. He doesn’t know who Kathy Griffin is and the head she was holding resembled his dad.”

Donald Trump Jr. lamented that he would have to “explain it to my 8 and 10 year olds who I’m sure will see/hear about it at school.”

Griffin was widely criticized and lost her co-hosting role on CNN’s New Year’s coverage.

Now it would appear Republicans have changed their tune. After much outcry over the photo, not only is the image used in the RNC video, but it is prominently featured on the party’s official web page. And the chair of the RNC, Ronna Romney McDaniel, who ostensibly would have greenlighted the ad, was appointed by Trump and is known to be a Trump “loyalist.”

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The Republican Party is amplifying an image that Trump and his wife said was sick and traumatized their child. If it works to attack Democrats and raise money for the party, it’s just fine with them.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.