Donald Trump held a marathon press briefing on Tuesday, ostensibly to celebrate the first anniversary of his triumphant return to the White House before he set off for the World Economic Forum in Davos to announce his takeover of the world. He carried a thick sheaf of papers with hundreds of numbered “accomplishments” he has supposedly achieved, from saving millions of lives to banning paper straws through executive decree. But that wasn’t the real reason he emerged to make such an unexpected appearance before getting on a plane for an important speech and meeting with world leaders. He obviously saw the latest polls — and they aren’t good.
We know this because Trump mentioned it in the White House briefing room. Going on and on (and on) about his alleged economic genius, shouting out nonsensical numbers for what felt like hours, he couldn’t help but whine a little. “I mean, I’m not getting — maybe I have the — bad public relations people, but we’re not getting it across.” Coming from the man who bills himself as the greatest leader, the best deal maker and the most compelling salesman the world has ever known, his words were a tell.
