Is Trump Turning On His Own?

Most conservatives have viewed Donald Trump with a jaundiced eye.  From June of 2015 when he launched his bid for the presidency – The Sensible Conservative was among them.  Duly noted was Trump’s apparent fondness for Democrats – he had been one, and his endorsements of political positions (e.g., abortions) popular in New York City circles.

Also was his lack of seriousness as a candidate.  Celebrity status, reality TV, his checkered domestic past and his vulgar public persona hardly provided gravitas to his campaign.

Yet, on the campaign trail, he voiced (or tweeted) generally conservative themes and, of course, he was running against the despised Hillary Clinton.  So we hoped for the best.  His initial appointments were greatly comforting from experienced military and business leaders (for example, Secretary of Defense General Mathis to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, ex RNC Chairman who “knew” the jungles of Washington).  But, to be sure, Trump remained his own man.  The bluster, insecurities and vulgarities naturally accompanied him into the White House; yet, early on, he fulfilled expectations.  Obama–era regulations and executive orders were jettisoned and a fine jurist was added to the Supreme Court. 

Hopes, alas, are proving to be illusions.  He dumps Reince Priebus after many weeks of leaks suggesting he wasn’t up to the job of running the White House.  He attacks his Attorney General, the first prominent conservative Republican legislator to support his candidacy – not for his job performance but for what he did not do (derail an FBI investigation).  And at the end of July, he brings in an ironically named communication director (booting out his first press secretary) – who proceeds to make a grand first impression by telling many of his White House mates in far vulgar language to go to hell. 

If loyalty is a one way street “down to up only,” the purported leader will eventually find himself all alone.  Then what?