By: Donald V. Watkins
©Copyrighted and Published on September 6, 2018
President Donald Trump has demanded that the New York Times turn over the anonymous senior official in the Trump Administration who wrote an op-ed essay that was critical of Trump. The newspaper published the essay yesterday.
Among other things, the op-ed essay stated:
“[M]any of the senior officials in his own administration are working diligently from within to frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations.
I would know. I am one of them.
To be clear, ours is not the popular 'resistance' of the left. We want the administration to succeed and think that many of its policies have already made America safer and more prosperous.
But we believe our first duty is to this country, and the president continues to act in a manner that is detrimental to the health of our republic.
That is why many Trump appointees have vowed to do what we can to preserve our democratic institutions while thwarting Mr. Trump’s more misguided impulses until he is out of office.
The root of the problem is the president’s amorality. Anyone who works with him knows he is not moored to any discernible first principles that guide his decision making. . . .
From the White House to executive branch departments and agencies, senior officials will privately admit their daily disbelief at the commander in chief’s comments and actions. Most are working to insulate their operations from his whims. . . .
In public and in private, President Trump shows a preference for autocrats and dictators, such as President Vladimir Putin of Russia and North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, and displays little genuine appreciation for the ties that bind us to allied, like-minded nations. . . .
Given the instability many witnessed, there were early whispers within the cabinet of invoking the 25th Amendment, which would start a complex process for removing the president. But no one wanted to precipitate a constitutional crisis. So we will do what we can to steer the administration in the right direction until — one way or another — it’s over.
The bigger concern is not what Mr. Trump has done to the presidency but rather what we as a nation have allowed him to do to us. We have sunk low with him and allowed our discourse to be stripped of civility.”
Trump, who called U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions a “traitor” and “retard”, is furious about the op-ed essay. Inside the West Wing, the hunt is on for the author of this essay.
The White House has openly labeled the author as a “coward”. Trump has denounced the publication of the op-ed essay an act of "treason."
“Insiders” privately admit the White House is in full meltdown mode. Many Administration officials who work directly with Trump believe he is “unfit” for the Presidency. They are afraid to say so publicly out of fear of retribution. They say Trump spends most of his time each day tweeting, watching Fox News, chatting with friends on the phone, and mocking his critics. He has shown no interest in reading presidential briefing on any subject.
As usual, Congressional leaders Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan are silent during this latest White House crisis. Both men are regarded as little more than political "fluffers" for Trump.
I believe the author of the anonymous op-ed essay is Vice President Mike Pence, who has not commented publicly on this essay. There could not have been any thoughtful discussion amongst cabinet members about invoking the 25th Amendment that did not include Pence, a former congressman from Indiana.
This is why "no one wanted to precipitate a constitutional crisis. So we will do what we can to steer the administration in the right direction until — one way or another — it’s over."
PHOTO: President Donald Trump in a fit of rage. Is he "fit" for office? A senior Administration official who works directly with Trump says,"no."
