Trump and the Times
Seem to be the best of friends now.
The whole interview is well worth reading, as a glimpse into Trump’s mindset at the moment (he’s looking into this and that), and his ability to work the room. For example:
TRUMP: And by the way, if you see something or get something where you feel that I’m wrong, and you have some info ”” I would love to hear it. You can call me, Arthur can call me, I would love to hear. The only one who can’t call me is Maureen [Dowd, opinion columnist]. She treats me too rough.
I don’t know what happened to Maureen! She was so good, Gail [Collins, opinion columnist]. For years she was so good.
[cross talk]
SULZBERGER: As we all say about Maureen, it’s not your fault, it’s just your turn.
[laughter]
He hated the NYT before he loved. Back and forth on the wall and global warming. The guy is really erratic and unpredictable. But we knew that.
Or just triangulating and launches trial ballons to estimate reaction.
Nothing he does or says before he actually has the power invested in him at the inauguration is meaningful… it’s just talk.
The first real 100 days tells the tale. Everything before that is subject to decisions and revisions which a moment can reverse.
Vanderleun:
Before the taking of a toast and tea.
If he is lying, when will he stop? In early January 2017?
Trump if a blustering man, but he is not stupid. OM, you (like me a few weeks ago) read him wrong. My advice is wait and see. I remain extremely skeptical, but willing to wait and see. Me, the family patriach, says keep your powder dry. There will be 4 years to vilify djt if he proves to be false.
Trum’s gauging public reaction and manipulating it via his actions and via the media. Similar to the previous gameplan of crashing the Republican primaries. See what sticks. Read social media for unfiltered news and info. Adjust based on community surveys. Solicit advice from the crowd, as in crowd funding.
His clan and loyalists would be better tasked to get this gameplay on, given the generational difference and Trum’s own obsession with focusing on people he has a vendetta against. This kind of cold calculated strategy is generally used by a different personality entirely. It is not beyond Trum’s delegation abilities to make use of such people, especially if they are clan and family, which I suspect he has at least one of them given they grew up under Trum.