A new book has cast a harsh light on one of the more troubling aspects — at least in my view — of Donald Trump’s time as president of the United States.
It’s called “Team of Five: The Presidents Club in the Age of Trump.”
I’ll concede that I haven’t read the book, but that’s going to change likely very soon when I purchase a copy of it. I am likely to read it cover to cover in one sitting … or perhaps two.
I have gleaned this much from what I have understand about its thesis: Donald Trump does not rely on the expertise, the unique experiences of his living predecessors to give him any perspective on how he might handle pressing national or international problems; he is flying solo on this perilous journey as head of state and commander in chief.
All of his predecessors — Presidents Bush, Obama, Clinton and Carter — have developed relationships with each other. They are cast in the unique experiences they all share. Trump sits not just on the sidelines, but in the presidential peanut gallery.
He told the author he doesn’t know whether he would attend the eventual dedication of Barack Obama’s presidential library. He doesn’t expect to even be invited. He has said many times over the years that he trusts his own instincts over the advice of others. He declared at the GOP national convention that “I, alone” can repair the nation’s ills. He doesn’t read briefing papers prepared by serious experts on public policy.
During his entire presidency, this individual has denigrated the tenures of each of his living predecessors. He takes President Obama to task seemingly every day; he has called President Bush a failure; he led the charge to lock up with the wife of President Clinton, who also served as a U.S. senator and secretary of state; he dismisses President Carter’s tenure as insignificant.
Presidents Obama and Bush have begun firing return volleys and, as
Trump is treading along a lonely path as president. However, in what passes for this clown’s mind, “loneliness” is nothing about which to worry. He likes it that way.
Along the way, he has disserved the nation he was elected to lead.