There is no new Trump
If you think youve been hearing a different President Trump this week more accepting of the reality of the coronavirus pandemic dont be fooled. The new Trump is the same as the old Trump. He cant help it. Hes incapable of taking responsibility for his role in this crisis and thus incapable of leading us out of it.
After weeks of denial and deflection, a seemingly chastened Trump on Monday conceded that the virus was, in fact, not under control, and was, indeed, a very bad one. What caused the switch in tone? Who knows? Perhaps it was the largest one-day point drop in the Dow Jones in history on Monday. Perhaps it was a study the White House received saying that 2.2 million Americans could die. Perhaps it was that Trumps beloved Mar-a-Lago is getting a coronavirus-necessitated deep cleaning.
But the sudden shift cant conceal the fact that Trump has shown himself to be wholly inept at dealing with the pandemic. It doesnt change the fact that he puts himself first, always. It doesnt alter the fact that, as he once told top aides, he thinks of each presidential day as an episode in a television show in which he vanquishes rivals. It doesnt dissolve Trumps compulsion to lie, even when truth would serve him best. It doesnt diminish his incompetence, ignorance or propensity for administrative chaos.
And it doesnt change his inability to accept responsibility. I dont take responsibility at all, Trump said Friday. So too this week, even as he acknowledged the seriousness of the situation he had played down for so long.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/03/18/there-is-no-new-trump/
True Blue American
(17,986 posts)Others speak. There is not there there. His eyes are blank as he looks around wondering how soon can I go out the door.
He has trouble reading his words and you can see him try to control his rage that is just below the surface.
In his office he sits with arms crossed, obvious he is shutting out information.