Among the Twitter eruptions, an unmasked Trump solemnly presided over Memorial Day ceremonies at Arlington Cemetery and tweeted a campaign-style video about himself observing the main observances.
“As long as our flag flies in the sky above, the names of these fallen warriors will be woven into its threads,” he said in a moving speech in Fort McHenry.
“As long as we have citizens willing to follow their example, to carry on their weight, to continue their legacy, then the American cause will never fail and American freedom will never die.”
Yet written solemnity and unifying patriotism have made Trump’s outburst of anger on Twitter seem even more surreal, and have stressed that it is impossible for him to avoid jumping into Americans’ social media feeds even for a weekend. Indeed, Trump returned to criticizing the Democratic governor of North Carolina not long after returning to the White House on Monday afternoon.
A surreal look in the mind of a president
After Trump’s three years deliberately stepping on normal presidential codes of conduct – in part to show supporters to remain an anti-elite outsider, none of this is surprising.
In 50 years, Trump’s Twitter weekend explosions could present itself as a surprising document of a presidency rooted more than ever in personal obsessions and incessant wars with the media and its growing crowds of political enemies.
At this stage there was little evidence of a deeper meaning for his presidency than personal and political complaints. A broader political framework for a potential second Trump term is also missing. And in addition to a relentless push to support an aggressive opening of the country, for example in a new request to open schools, Trump seems much less interested in how to do the task safely – in addition to rewriting CDC hand washing tips – of its boiling political feuds.
No white house could have been fully prepared for the disaster and the consequent economic emptying of this year’s pandemic. But it is also difficult to imagine a recent president of one of the parties fighting against him with the same campaign of denial, distraction and disinformation.
Trump establishes a sign on the republican convention
The confrontation could be surprising if the Democrats organized a castrated social remote convention or put most of the events online in a way that would deprive the alleged Democratic candidate Joe Biden of his great moment in front of a large crowd and a prime time television audience .
Yet a show like the Republican convention seems totally inconsistent with real world events. Sports teams that use these arenas expect to play without fans for at least months in a bio-safe environment. The prospect of thousands of delegates pouring into partner cities from across the country, including coronavirus hotspots, is a big headache for organizers. After delegates spend hours or days together, they can return home to cause new outbreaks.
“Unfortunately, the Democratic governor, @RoyCooperNC is still in the mood for Shutdown and cannot guarantee that we will be allowed full presence in the Arena by August,” tweeted Trump Monday.
“In other words, we would spend millions of dollars building the Arena to a very high standard without even knowing if the Democratic governor would allow the Republican Party to completely occupy the space.”
It was not immediately clear whether Trump and the Republican National Committee were serious about withdrawing the convention from Charlotte. The chances or organization of such an imposing event elsewhere seems reduced at this late stage, especially since other major cities and arenas also have to deal with the virus.
But given that Tar Heel’s state is a viable battleground in November, Trump could benefit politically from a grassroots campaign against local Democrats.
North Carolina reported its peak in Saturday cases, although, as in any state, it is sometimes difficult to say whether these increases represent a worsening outbreak or an increase in tests. It has not been one of the worst affected states, but deaths have risen again in the past few days.
Trump defends the golf fix … slamming Obama
The nature of Trump’s presidency soap opera was also reflected this weekend in his defense of his decision to play golf for the first time since March at his Virginia golf club.
The debate over presidents and their journey to ties has become a boring ritual that sees partisans taking positions according to the ruling party.
“Some stories that I played golf on the weekend to get out and maybe even a little exercise. The Fake & Totally Corrupt News makes it sound like a deadly sin,” tweeted Trump, complaining that that Obama flew Air Force One to Hawaii for his annual holidays when he often played golf.
Trump has repeatedly used federal resources to fly to his resorts and golf courses. Trump’s two rounds this weekend deemed critics inappropriate during a national crisis and a weekend in which the American remembers his dead war.
“Nearly 100,000 lives have been lost and tens of millions are out of work. In the meantime, the president has spent the day playing golf,” Biden wrote in a tweet accompanying an online announcement on Saturday.
The perpetual debate about golf and presidents raises the question of whether presidents should set aside clubs and set other hobbies for four or eight years in office or whether they have the right to enjoy some free time outside the White House bubble. . President George W. Bush, for example, has decided not to play golf during much of his presidency fearing the low-key after sending Americans to war.
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