A Complete Analysis Of Trump’s 100th Unpresidented Week As POTUS
Donald Trump is alone, afraid, and infuriated as crises of his own making throw his presidency into a state of unmitigated chaos.
Trump’s first major typo after winning the election was spelling Unprecedented incorrectly. He infamously tweeted “Unpresidented.” This typo is a personification of his administration: An impulsive, frantically thrown together group of characters with virtually no oversight. After Trump was sworn in, I started writing the weekly “Unpresidented” column, analyzing his every move. This is week 100.
100 weeks. 700 days. 7,546 lies. 17 known investigations. 1 unstable president impulsively bashing against the restraints of the rule of law while breaking America’s democratic and international norms like a bow-legged bull in a Russian glassware shop. Of course, all of this wouldn’t be possible without the sycophantic Republican Party, who is so afraid of the base they radicalized for decades, they pretend they don’t have the constitutional means to stop the crisis they unleashed on this world.
This is the current state of the United States after almost two years of President Trump. It’s truly remarkable how one man can have such a damaging effect on a nation that prides itself on the resilience of its institutions. This week, the damage was profound.
Obsessively watching cable news and lashing out at aides, report after report has painted a picture of President Trump at his absolute worst. To confirm those reports, one needs to look no further than his Twitter feed. Trump, a personification of the ego, is incapable of growth and unable to take responsibility for his actions. What’s at issue here is the fact the President of the United States has the mental maturity of a toddler and the depravity of a despot. If Trump lacked the mental fortitude to lead the nation in good times, then he will certainly further unravel during the bad, the worst of which is yet to come.
Secretary of Defense James Mattis, who didn’t follow President Trump’s impulsive 2017 order to assassinate Syrian Dictator Bashar Al-Assad, was the most important guardrail standing firmly between Trump and international calamity. Well-read and measured to his core, Mattis’ character was more akin to his lesser-known nickname, the “warrior monk,” than his more popular moniker “Mad Dog.” Mattis was one of the few people preventing Trump from unleashing his worst foreign policy instincts. But that era is over.
For years, the Kurdish YPG fought side-by-side with the US-led coalition in Syria. After helping the US severely cripple ISIS, we’re abandoning the Kurds to a devastating fate because of Trump’s impulsive decision he made on a phone call Turkish President Recep Erdogan, who aims to slaughter them. The move was so disastrous it united Republicans, Democrats, and members of the media (including Fox & Friends) on a single message: this move hands a win to Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iran, and ISIS.
After this and other recent moves, Mattis sent in his resignation letter clearly rebuking President Trump’s authoritarian-friendly worldview. Mattis was set to leave his office at the end of February so he could still represent the US at the NATO ministerial. President Trump has since cut that short, forcing Mattis out by January 1st.
Now, we have a Christmas government shutdown because President Trump is using his last bit of leverage before the Democrats take over the House of Representatives, to hold government funding hostage for an unnecessary and costly campaign promise only an intolerant minority of Americans want.
On top of all this, the Dow had the largest Christmas Eve plunge in history. Trump’s narcissism makes it impossible for him to see he’s responsible for this market as he took to Twitter blaming everyone but himself. His trade war started it, but now he attacks Fed Chair Jerome Powell and wants to fire him, further causing volatility. And Steve Mnuchin’s weekend statement didn’t help either. Trump is a one-man ego wrecking ball.
With investigations diving into his life of corruption already implicating him in felonies, an incoming check on his presidency from the Democratic-led House, an increasingly divided country living in two very different realities, and a potential incoming economic downturn largely caused by President Trump’s own trade policies, the next two years are very likely going to be some of the volatile two years in American history.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report on his investigation into the potential conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia, as well as President Trump’s efforts to obstruct that investigation, is expected to come in early 2019.
Impeachment is likely in the 2019 Democratic House. Conviction in the Republican-controlled Senate is another story. All the while, calls for the 25th amendment to be invoked grow louder. The American people have their sights on 2020 but many are eager for more action sooner.
There is no longer a debate as to whether Trump is unfit for office. The only debate that remains is what we should do about it.
How Much Of An Impact Did Russia’s Disinformation Have? (A Lot)
Day 697: Monday, December 17
Two Independent reports that were commissioned by the Senate revealed even more details about how the Russian government used social media to spread disinformation and manipulate American voters. It revealed details about how the now-indicted Internet Research Agency targeted specific demographics with the disinformation that sought to divide Democrats, attack Hillary Clinton, and further radicalize conservatives with anti-immigration propaganda. It wasn’t just Facebook, Twitter, and Google being utilized, but some of their properties like Instagram, Vine, and YouTube as well. Other sites like Reddit, Pinterest, Tumblr and email applications like Yahoo and Gmail were used by the Russians. The Russians also targeted Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The reports also provided more evidence bolstering what we already knew: it was all in an effort to help candidate Trump become President Trump.
In other news…
- The Guardian: Michael Flynn associate charged with illegal lobbying for Turkey
- The Trump Shutdown stage was set — Bloomberg: Trump Opposes Short-Term Funding to Avoid Shutdown, Source Says
- ABC News: Federal judge rules Obamacare unconstitutional, Democrats immediately vow appeal
- Reuters: Justice Department asks appeals court to end Trump emoluments case
- Politico: Trump offering farmers extra $4.9 billion in trade relief
The Trump Foundation Fraud
Day 698: Tuesday, December 18
On Tuesday, the New York Attorney General forced the Trump Foundation to shut down for their years of illegal activity.
I had some thoughts on this story. Check out my thread:
In other news…
- The Washington Post: Michael Flynn’s sentencing delayed after judge tells the ex-Trump adviser he might not avoid prison time
- The New York Times published a damning piece on Facebook’s privacy practices.
- The Daily Beast: Mueller Ready to Pounce on Trumpworld Concessions to Moscow
- Rather than plugging all of Trump’s tweets from today here, I’ll let The Washington Post’s Philip Rucker take it from here:
- The New York Times: Trump Administration Report on School Safety Plays Down Role of Guns
- The Wall Street Journal: Roger Stone Admits Spreading Lies on InfoWars
- Politico: Trump launches unprecedented reelection machine
- CNN: Trump orders creation of US Space Command
- Politico: Senate approves Trump-backed criminal justice overhaul
- Chance of recession rises to the highest level of the Trump presidency: CNBC Fed Survey
The Reckless Syria Withdrawal
Day 699: Wednesday, December 19
On Wednesday, President Trump made a move that will have disastrous ramifications. Better for none other than Rantt’s Foreign Affairs Editor Jossif Ezekilov to explain it to you:
Today’s withdrawal can be seen as an outright capitulation at best, and a cynical abandonment of US allies and principles at worst. Pulling out troops in such hasty manner-i.e. without consulting advisors and allies, without providing a strategy to do so, or even failing to notify US-supported groups in Syria — has no discernible positive outcomes for US foreign policy or national security. The move, however, is music to the ears of Mr. Erdogan and a host of parties hostile to US interests, namely Russia, Iran, Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, and ISIS.
…
As bad as the potential outcomes are in the short and medium term, the long-term implications of Trump’s order are that much worse. The US has always justified its military operations as necessary to promote peace, stability, and/or democracy. By leaving its allies to fend for themselves against brutal dictators, it now sends a different message: the US stands for nothing and is not to be trusted.
To read the full detailed analysis, check out his article here:
In other news…
- CNN: Trump signed letter of intent for Trump Tower Moscow project despite Giuliani insisting he didn’t
- CNN: Senate passes stop-gap funding bill in effort to avert government shutdown
- Bloomberg: Trump Poised to Lift Rusal Sanctions as Deripaska Cuts Stake
- CNN: House Intelligence panel votes to send Roger Stone transcript to Mueller
- Vox: The mysterious grand jury appeal that may be tied to the Mueller investigation, explained
- CNBC: New secret filing in case of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen placed in NY federal court vault
- NBC News: Federal judge strikes down Trump asylum rules for domestic and gang violence victims
- The Hollywood Reporter: BuzzFeed Beats Defamation Lawsuit Over Trump Dossier Story
The Last Guardrail
Day 700: Thursday, December 20
On Thursday, Secretary of Defense James Mattis sent a shockwave throughout the world with his powerful resignation letter. Mattis did not mince words and made it very clear he was leaving President Trump’s Cabinet due to his differences with Trump’s worldview. Trump’s transactional approach to life does not blend well with the necessity for long-term, diplomatic alliances.
As the week went on, additional information surrounding Mattis’ departure surfaced.
And concern about our allies grew.
This is the best piece I’ve read on Mattis’ departure thus far:
It was quite the day.
As we saw over the weekend, President Trump forced Mattis out even earlier and appointed his deputy Patrick Shanahan to replace him. Shanahan previously worked for defense contractors…
In other news…
- The Washington Post: Trump says he won’t sign Senate deal to avert shutdown, demands funds for border security
- NBC News: Mueller may submit report to attorney general as soon as mid-February, say sources
- Buzzfeed: Russian Agents Sought Secret US Treasury Records On Clinton Backers During 2016 Campaign
- CNN: Trump’s pick for attorney general warns Mueller’s obstruction inquiry ‘fatally misconceived’ in memo to DOJ
- CNN: Whitaker rejected ethics official’s advice he should recuse from Russia probe
- ABC News: Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen says asylum seekers will be forced to wait in Mexico
- The Washington Post: Trump administration aims to toughen work requirements for food stamp recipients
- The New York Times: Putin Welcomes U.S. Withdrawal From Syria as ‘Correct’
Shutdown For What?
Day 701: Friday, December 21
As we approached the midnight shutdown, like clockwork, President Trump tried to blame the Democrats after previously saying he owns it.
After the House passes a bill which included $5 billion in border wall funding it failed in the Senate, and the shutdown was now inevitable.
Meanwhile, the markets continued to tank.
And President Trump’s favorite propaganda arm turned on him for a moment.
In other news…
- Another thread of potential obstruction of justice to be on the lookout for:
- CNBC: Dow dives 400 points to end its worst week in 10 years
- The Washington Post: Supreme Court denies Trump administration request to immediately enforce new asylum rules
- CNN: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has cancerous nodules removed from lung
- The New York Times: Russians Tried, but Were Unable to Compromise Midterm Elections, U.S. Says
- CNBC: Billionaire megadonor Robert Mercer cuts back on support for GOP after being scrutinized for backing Trump
- Axios: Pre-Christmas Trump: Rebuked, rampaging
- The Washington Post: As stocks drop, Trump fears he’s losing his best argument for reelection
- The Washington Post: ‘A tailspin’: Under siege, Trump propels the government and markets into crisis
- President Trump released the “Steel Slat Barrier” mockup.
Christmas Eve Weekend
Day 702, 703, and 704: Saturday, Sunday, and Monday — December 22, 23, 24
On Saturday, The New York Times dropped a report about Trump’s state of mind that should worry every American:
Now, the president who once declared that “I alone can fix” the system increasingly stands alone in a system that seems as broken as ever. The swirl of recent days — a government shutdown, spiraling scandals, tumbling stock markets, abrupt troop withdrawals and the resignation of his alienated defense secretary — has left the impression of a presidency at risk of spinning out of control.
At the midpoint of his term, Mr. Trump has grown more sure of his own judgment and more cut off from anyone else’s than at any point since taking office. He spends ever more time in front of a television, often retreating to his residence out of concern that he is being watched too closely. As he sheds advisers at a head-spinning rate, he reaches out to old associates, complaining that few of the people around him were there at the beginning.
That report also mentioned how President Trump has discussed firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell over the last few days. Then, on Sunday, Steve Mnuchin sent out a statement claiming that he called bankers to check on their liquidity, which would lead to even further market volatility on Christmas Eve.
As the President sat in the White House alone, he took to Twitter confirming the reports about his mental instability.
Those are just a few of many of his impulsive tweets. I responded to one of them reminding him that real human beings are being affected by his actions.
By the end of the trading day, the Trump-triggered market slump made history, but not the good kind…
Look on the bright side, at least we can all say Merry Christmas again.
Ahmed Baba is Co-Founder and COO/Editor-in-Chief of Rantt Media. Writer of Unpresidented, Ahmed has documented and analyzed every day of the Trump presidency. His work has been mentioned in The New York Times, The Washington Post, BBC, The Huffington Post, Yahoo News, The Telegraph, Blavity, and more. He can be reached at ahmed@rantt.com or found on Twitter @AhmedBaba_.
This article was originally published on rantt.com
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