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Trump Should Talk About Aleppo, Not 'Vanity Fair'

by Melissa Cruz

While President-elect Donald Trump could be discussing Aleppo, he's attacking Vanity Fair. The fashion and entertainment magazine, which also mixes in a fair dose of political commentary between its glossed pages, is the latest media outlet to be attacked by the future president. Though it should barely surprise anyone at this point, the fact that the next leader of the free world dismisses an international crisis in favor of endlessly responding to each criticism against him should be concerning. But in Trump's world, it just seems par for the course.

This latest feud began when Vanity Fair published two pieces that were critical of Trump during the week of Dec. 12, titled "Someone Has Finally Agreed to Perform at Donald Trump's Inauguration" and "Trump Grill Could Be The Worst Restaurant in America." This certainly wasn't the first time the publication came for Trump, however — it has consistently expressed its disapproval of the president-elect over the past several months.

But adding fuel to Trump's very easily set fire was Vanity Fair's long-time editor, Graydon Carter. The editor and journalist has been a consistent (and pretty hilarious) thorn in the president-elect's side. He is credited with originating the "short-fingered vulgarian" insult that has so tormented the former real estate mogul for decades. That insult even managed to find its way into one of the Republican primary debates, when Senator Marco Rubio jokingly commented on Trump's small hands. Trump's comeback was to retaliate by alluding to the size of his penis, saying, "If they're small, something else must be small. I guarantee you there's no problem. I guarantee."

Needless to say, it doesn't take much for Trump to get riled up when it comes to Carter and Vanity Fair. In response to their latest pieces, Trump tweeted:

But this most recent tweet seems particularly tone deaf given the crisis happening simultaneously in Syria. The United Nations says that there has been a "complete breakdown of humanity" in the region, with reports of pro-government forces entering people's homes and killing civilians, including children. As of Tuesday, reports indicate that at least 82 civilians have been shot and killed on sight.

And yet, when other world leaders have spoken up about the humanitarian crisis, President-Elect Trump has said nothing. His last mention of Aleppo was in early October to say he disagreed with his then-running mate Mike Pence about how he would handle the conflict.

It's a dangerous shame that our next president seems to confine his concerns to what a magazine like Vanity Fair says about him. How he reacts as president will likely be no better.