Nobody could have known
via Flickr users Policy Exchange and Gage Skidmore
During the 2016 election, Donald Trump ran with a stunning ignorance of the American political process. He convinced millions of Americans that the country’s problems could be solved through negotiation and force of will. But over his first 100 days in office, Trump has been gut-punched by America’s system of checks and balances, leaving him with few achievements and low approval ratings.
Last week, in an interview with Reuters, Trump reflected on his first 100 days by admitting the job was harder than he imagined. “I loved my previous life. I had so many things going,” he said. “This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier.” Trump’s admission shows how little he knew about the office before taking on its tremendous responsibilities. This statement provoked the ire of David Frum, former George W. Bush speechwriter and senior editor of The Atlantic. Frum has been a target of scorn in the Republican Party for putting country above party and openly criticizing the president.
Frum unleashed a tweetstorm on Friday, mocking Trump’s naiveté and showing the threat it poses to both America and the globe.
\nNobody could have known the presidency was hard.
— David Frum (@davidfrum) April 28, 2017\n
\nAs Newt Gingrich pointed out, nobody could have known that the president is sometimes criticized and occasionally does not get his own way
— David Frum (@davidfrum) April 28, 2017\n
\nAll this information was cunningly concealed by being put in books and other forms of writing
— David Frum (@davidfrum) April 28, 2017\n
\nAlso , nobody could have known that 2 year old tweets are retrievable
— David Frum (@davidfrum) April 28, 2017\n
\nNobody could have known it was wrong for a former head of an intelligence agency to accept money from foreign governments
— David Frum (@davidfrum) April 28, 2017\n
\nNobody could have known that a few dozen little white lies about things like wiretapping could cause so much trouble
— David Frum (@davidfrum) April 28, 2017\n
\nNobody could have known that removing health coverage from tens of millions of people might have political consequences
— David Frum (@davidfrum) April 28, 2017\n
\nNobody could have known that tax plans are supposed to come with numbers
— David Frum (@davidfrum) April 28, 2017\n
\nNobody could have known that they tally and publish how much your weekend golf excursions cost the public
— David Frum (@davidfrum) April 28, 2017\n
\nNobody could have known that the Indian and the Pacific are different oceans
— David Frum (@davidfrum) April 28, 2017\n
\nNobody could have known that Congress would ask questions if you accepted $400 million from a state controlled Chinese bank
— David Frum (@davidfrum) April 28, 2017\n
\nNobody could have known that threatening to cancel a 30 year old trillion dollar North American trade deal might upset anybody
— David Frum (@davidfrum) April 28, 2017\n
\nNobody could have known that his wife often looks unhappy when his back is turned
— David Frum (@davidfrum) April 28, 2017\n
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