The Missing President

"He's done a lot else in October: traveled out of the country twice; defended the demolition of the East Wing to make room for a giant ballroom; asked for (and, in several cases, received) prosecutions of his political enemies and granted clemency to allies; demanded a $230 million payment to himself from the Justice Department; and authorized numerous strikes on alleged drug boats."

"Trump has also posted AI-generated videos of himself dressed like a king, using a fighter jet to drop excrement on protesters, or, parodying Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper," playing cowbell as his budget director (dressed as the Grim Reaper) seeks to traumatize the federal workforce. But when it comes to the government shutdown, Trump barely seems to be paying attention. Some of this aloofness is by design, the president's aides told us, describing a month-long strategy of putting the onus for reopening the government on Democrats."

"It's a departure from how Trump handled a shutdown during his first term, when, over the course of 35 days, he employed tactics that are a lot more standard for a president: huddling with lawmakers, empathizing with furloughed workers, and addressing the American public. As the country approaches November 1, when money for food-assistance benefits will run out and many Americans will receive notices stating that their health-care premiums for next year will skyrocket, some Republicans have begun to push back against Trump's absentee approach."

Over 29 days of a government shutdown, President Donald Trump has not gone to Capitol Hill, summoned congressional leaders, or addressed the public about the shutdown. He traveled abroad twice, defended demolishing the East Wing for a ballroom, sought prosecutions of political opponents, granted clemency to allies, demanded a $230 million Justice Department payment to himself, and authorized strikes on alleged drug boats. He posted AI-generated videos depicting himself in regal or provocative scenarios. Aides describe an intentional strategy to put the onus for reopening on Democrats. Republicans increasingly urge him to intervene as November 1 deadlines threaten food-assistance and health-care costs.

Read at The Atlantic