ANALYSIS : Amid Harvey, Trump eschews typical presidential optics for Trumpism.
Squint and it almost seemed like a traditional president doing what’s typically done after disaster strikes. President Trump was meeting with those grappling with a storm’s impact, praising the efforts and coordination of local officials, and promising quick rebuilding for the people of the afflicted region.
But open your eyes wide and the Trump-style twists make themselves as known as the big white hat with the “USA” logo – versions of which were for sale, as always, on the Trump campaign website.
There were the superlatives, the grand pronouncements, the giant Texas flag, and the raving about the size of both the storm and the crowd that materialized to greet him. There was also the decision not to visit areas devastated by Hurricane Harvey
On cue this morning, a presidential tweet followed: “After witnessing first hand the horror & devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, my heart goes out even more so to the great people of Texas!”
