Nobody is saying that President Trump is wearing a dynamite vest and will blow up the White House and most of the the East Coast if anybody tries to hold him accountable. But they might as well be saying it. Because he might as well be wearing a dynamite vest.
Half of the Trump formula is to transgress and to accumulate accomplices by bullying or seduction. The other half is scaring off anyone who might hold him accountable by bullying or by making it clear he will not go quietly. And what not quietly means is he will resort to anything and everything to protect himself. He is not just playing crazy with North Korea; he is playing it with the United States. Message received.
Not to introduce too many metaphors, but it’s a little like a cancer trying to convince the sufferer that surgery and chemo would be too uncomfortable. Well, yes, plenty uncomfortable, but nonetheless plenty necessary.
We pause here for a bit of diversion, as the Trump self-image machine has jumped the shark. The U.S. government has produced, ahead of the North Korean meeting, if it occurs and whatever the result, a prematurely commemorative coin of truly Trumpian tackiness. The White House denies involvement, but I don’t see why. It is everything Trump stands for. Boasting about unachieved results, gold-colored plating, willingness to equate himself with a crazy dictator, appearing near the words “Supreme Leader” and all-around gaudy vulgarity.
But now back to our actual problem. Trump is busy laying the groundwork for not just a legal crisis, or even a constitutional crisis, but a crisis of the American people. Trump and his fellow travelers are busy poisoning many Americans’ faith in the rule of law by poisoning their acceptance of its officers. This has no other purpose than to create a swath of the public who would support him in a coup-like move to neutralize law enforcement aimed at him. The message is nothing short of saying it would be too dangerous for anyone to seriously challenge his power and prerogatives.
Somebody should check to see if anyone has already produced a Supreme Leader coin with only Trump on it.