CNN
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Chris Christie is aware of what makes Donald Trump tick.
Which is why it’s value listening to the previous New Jersey governor – and onetime Trump ally – when he explains why he thinks the previous President saved labeled paperwork at his Mar-a-Lago dwelling after leaving the White Home.
“I believe it’s more likely that they’re a trophy, that he walks round and says, ‘Look, I’ve obtained this, I’ve obtained this labeled doc or that,’” Christie mentioned throughout an look on ABC’s “This Week.” “As a result of, keep in mind one thing, he can’t consider he’s not president. He can’t consider he nonetheless doesn’t get these paperwork. And he must show to everyone down at Mar-a-Lago, or up in Bedminster in the course of the summer season, that he nonetheless has a few of these trappings.”
Which is tremendous attention-grabbing!
I believe for many individuals – particularly some Democrats – the guiding perception is that Trump saved all types of labeled paperwork as a result of he was (or is) as much as one thing nefarious.
What Christie is proposing appears to me to be rather more believable.
Take into account that a lot of what Trump does is for the sake of appearances. What issues to him is how folks understand issues, not how they really are.
Put one other approach: He has spent a lifetime taking part in the position of “Donald Trump.” And his 4 years as president was the crowning second in that lifetime position. He merely gained’t – or can’t – settle for that he not has that energy and affect.
It’s why he continues to push debunked election fraud conspiracies. And it’s why he continues to behave – for his base – like he’s nonetheless president. With the ability to, in the midst of a dialog, to say to somebody (utilizing Christie’s phrases) “I’ve obtained this labeled doc” helps protect the phantasm that Trump stays, at some stage, nonetheless in energy. He nonetheless (no less than his personal thoughts) has the trimmings of being president, which permits him to behave (and extra importantly be regarded) as president.
To be clear: The the explanation why Trump determined to maintain labeled supplies at Mar-a-Lago to is essentially irrelevant as a part of the continuing Division of Justice investigation into his retention of these paperwork. Trump did what he did and the DOJ investigation is much less within the “why” than the “what.”
However as a technique to perceive Trump’s psyche, Christie’s statement is invaluable. Trump is deeply invested in persevering with to look as if he’s president. The retention of labeled paperwork simply make him sound and look like he’s nonetheless vital.
Once more, how issues LOOK issues rather more to Trump than how issues ARE. All the time has, all the time will.
