Analysis: Final days of Trump’s presidency inspire hour-by-hour countdowns
Even at this late hour, Trump is delusional about his election loss, or he is still in deep denial, or some combination thereof. He is “still, and I think it’s important to say, according to people I’ve spoke to, still telling people that he won,” Maggie Haberman reported on “Reliable Sources” Sunday morning. “You know, he’s still maintaining this. So, the idea that he has accepted the loss, he is not there yet, if he is ever going to get there.”
Trump’s inability to face the truth of his loss to Biden might explain why he has barely faced reporters at all in the closing weeks of his presidency. Even more remarkably, he rarely ever called into his favorite TV shows. Aside from a couple of chats with Maria Bartiromo and Brian Kilmeade and some WH-produced videos, he’s been invisible.
“I think the feeling is, if he goes out and talk more, he is simply going to add fuel to the fire,” Haberman said. “That’s part of why we are not hearing him, as people are afraid of what he will say — people meaning his advisers — what he will say off the cuff in an interview.”
A farewell address?
>> I’m not raising these questions because I “want” to hear from Trump, per se. I’m raising the Q’s because what leaders don’t say is often more revealing than what they do say. Trump is scrapping norms all the way until the very last minute of his presidency, by getting out of town before Biden takes the oath…
Pence filling in as prez?
Pence — who, in an alt-history of the Trump age, would have become president had Trump been convicted by the Senate or deemed unfit by the cabinet — landed back in DC Sunday night after his final official trip in office. Per the press pool, he stepped off Air Force Two and “paused for a minute to look around and take it all in.” As he descended the stairs, the pool reporter shouted questions: “Sir, are you worried about violence on Wednesday?” And: “Will you greet the president-elect at the White House on Wednesday?” Pence did not answer.
Coming soon: A “slow news day?”
He interviewed Jill Lepore, who said, “You actually just have to show up, have actual information, bring people in who are doing their jobs, and answer the questions that the press and the public have.” Sounds simple — and refreshing…
Remember how presidents used to speak?
FOR THE RECORD
— We should all recall that Trump said 100,000 to 200,000 total deaths would count as a “very good job.” The death toll will surpass 400,000 by the time he leaves the WH…
— Walensky was part of a coordinated push by the Biden transition team to have reps on all five of the biggest Sunday morning shows…
