CNN conservative quickly gives up half-hearted defense of Trump's Hannibal Lecter rants

A conservative commentator wasn't able to muster a defense for Donald Trump's apparent obsession with an infamous cinematic cannibal.

The former president and presumptive Republican nominee keeps bringing up "the late, great Hannibal Lecter," a serial killer created by novelist Thomas Harris and depicted in films and TV series, and CNN commentator Shermichael Singleton was hard-pressed to explain why Trump praises him but trashes Milwaukee, which will host the Republican National Convention next month, as a "horrible city."

"The conventions bring a lot of money, a lot of people into the those cities, helps a lot of small businesses, so I want to look at this positively," Singleton said. "Let's have a good convention and let's bring in those dollars has benefit the local economy. That's the way the former president should look at this."

However, according to Democratic strategist Maria Cardona, the former president just doesn't have the capacity to see things that way.

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"You know, the problem is, is that somebody who seeks to be the leader of the free world has got to be somebody that can inject hope and optimism, that is looking at opportunities to bring in that hope and optimism," Cardona said. Donald Trump does not have the ability to do that and that's why, again, I think it goes into and it helps the Democratic message of just how unfit somebody like Donald Trump is."

Host Wolf Blitzer then segued into the ex-president's comments about Hannibal Lecter, a movie villain that has been portrayed by multiple actors who have personally trashed the former president, including Anthony Hopkins and Brian Cox, the latter of which disparaged him as a "f-----g a-----e."

"I just really don't think I need to add anything to that craziness," Cardona said. "That is just something that – I mean, I would be so scared if I were you, Shermichael, having to defend something like that."

Cardona said the former president's base would probably "eat it up," and Singleton attempted to summon a defense.

"Sir Anthony Hopkins is a talented actor, though, he's a talented actor," Singleton said. "He's a talented actor, it's a great movie."

"He didn't mention Anthony Hopkins, that's the problem," Cardona interjected.

"I know," Singleton replied, laughing and quickly abandoning his defense. "I know, Maria."

"That's the problem," Cardona continued. "Again, we laugh here, his base loves it, but this does nothing to add to the voters that he needs – independent voters, suburban women and, as a Democrat, I'm great with that. Continue talking that craziness."

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