Trump& #39;s tactics were more effective in & #39;16 because he was perceived as punching up. Now, Trump IS the establishment, and anything he does is a punch down by default. This power dynamic makes his one trick - playing the obnoxious heel - a serious liability. (1/4)
Being annoying and petty doesn& #39;t make him look powerful; it makes him look pathetic, like he lacks the confidence of a secure, beloved leader. He comes off like a punk. If he was halfway competent and wanted to cement his authoritarian regime, he& #39;d play it like a statesman. (2/4)
Trump is hamstrung by his personality. He lacks charm, or even the ability to look thoughtful and share a human moment. He is all aggravation, all the time, perpetually stuck in weaselly rhetoric and unable to project the bearing and dignity that his office demands. (3/4)