The following article was posted on the trumpaccountable.org website May 17, 2017:
Donald Trump’s “loose lips” moment in the Oval Office last week with the Russian foreign minister and ambassador is the latest blow to his credibility as a leader and gives many in the intelligence community – and partners around the world – further reason to believe he is not up for the job. Even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) recently made a dry, acerbic dig at Donald Trump’s credibility saying “I think we could do with a little less drama from the White House.”
We can look at the issue of Donald Trump’s credibility through three distinct lenses.
Credibility and The Office of President:
The Netflix series “The Crown” recounts the challenges a young Queen Elizabeth II faces as she realizes that her very identity changes as she ascends the throne. Her role as monarch begins to supersede her other identities (wife, mother, sister, friend) and the first season ends with her beginning to really grapple with who she is becoming. While the office of President of the United States is in no way encumbered with the trappings and history of the British monarchy, most successful presidents have dealt with similar challenges as they recognize that they represent more than themselves and have to put country and others ahead of their own interests. The credibility of the office of President of the United States depends on a far-ranging belief that the president is not concerned more with himself than with others, that the needs of those from Sandusky, Ohio or Fresno, California are as important as his own. One of the most telling illustrations of this is the role that Sean Spicer has come to play in the administration. Traditionally, the White House press secretary has been a spokesperson for the country, an official mouthpiece of the government. Since the very first time Spicer took the podium he has acted much more as a publicist for Donald Trump rather than as a spokesperson for the executive branch. Continue reading “Why Credibility Matters”