It is as the Guardian’s Richard Wolffe expresses
it: “a shambolic presidency,” one that will be in full bloom in seven days.
So, look out America, the next four years is going to be a very rough ride.
Wolffe writes:
“Judging from Wednesday’s trainwreck press conference – the first since July – Trump and his handlers have no self-discipline and no strategy to deal with the Russian crisis that has been simmering for the best part of the past year.
“They also have no sense of irony or, apparently, reality. The press conference opened with Sean Spicer, the incoming press secretary, condemning the media coverage of Trump’s compromised relationship with Russia as ‘frankly outrageous and highly irresponsible’.
“It seems churlish to have to recall this tweet from Trump in the closing phase of the recent election: ‘Did Crooked Hillary help disgusting (check out sex tape and past) Alicia M become a US citizen so she could use her in the debate?’
“This kind of thing makes it hard for the new White House to pass the laugh test, never mind the smell test. It’s heartwarming to know that the president-elect is so concerned about how fake news can destroy real people. If only he had the self-awareness and self-discipline to live by his own words.
“In any crisis you generally try to deflect attention from your own misconduct. Instead, Team Trump seems happy to shine a bright light on its own monumental mistakes.
“That included the wonderful personal testimony from the incoming vice-president, Mike Pence, who introduced his boss by assuring us that he was full of what he called ‘energy.’ Perhaps Pence has been spending too much time with someone who liked to criticize his primary opponents for having low energy.
“Donald Trump is full of many things, but his energy levels are neither relevant nor particularly reassuring at this point.
“Besides, if you need your vice-president to attest to your character, you’re such damaged goods that your executive position is already in jeopardy.”
Richard Wolffe: Trump's Trainwreck Press Conference Ushers In A Shambolic Presidency
So, look out America, the next four years is going to be a very rough ride.
Wolffe writes:
“Judging from Wednesday’s trainwreck press conference – the first since July – Trump and his handlers have no self-discipline and no strategy to deal with the Russian crisis that has been simmering for the best part of the past year.
“They also have no sense of irony or, apparently, reality. The press conference opened with Sean Spicer, the incoming press secretary, condemning the media coverage of Trump’s compromised relationship with Russia as ‘frankly outrageous and highly irresponsible’.
“It seems churlish to have to recall this tweet from Trump in the closing phase of the recent election: ‘Did Crooked Hillary help disgusting (check out sex tape and past) Alicia M become a US citizen so she could use her in the debate?’
“This kind of thing makes it hard for the new White House to pass the laugh test, never mind the smell test. It’s heartwarming to know that the president-elect is so concerned about how fake news can destroy real people. If only he had the self-awareness and self-discipline to live by his own words.
“In any crisis you generally try to deflect attention from your own misconduct. Instead, Team Trump seems happy to shine a bright light on its own monumental mistakes.
“That included the wonderful personal testimony from the incoming vice-president, Mike Pence, who introduced his boss by assuring us that he was full of what he called ‘energy.’ Perhaps Pence has been spending too much time with someone who liked to criticize his primary opponents for having low energy.
“Donald Trump is full of many things, but his energy levels are neither relevant nor particularly reassuring at this point.
“Besides, if you need your vice-president to attest to your character, you’re such damaged goods that your executive position is already in jeopardy.”
Richard Wolffe: Trump's Trainwreck Press Conference Ushers In A Shambolic Presidency
