What we're seeing in @realDonaldTrump is the same guy he's always been, but (for the first time in his life) with a brand that's hard to destroy: the United States. 1/
Because he wrecked the Trump™️ brand in the 1980s and 90s. Slapped it on everything and failed every time. I mean, really, who thought a steak endorsed by Trump added value? He stiffed vendors and suppliers and sued them if they demanded what he owed. 2/
He put cheap gold plate on casinos to make them "classy"... then defaulted on debts and had to declare bankruptcy. He was, in New York, a crass punchline. 3/
Banks (except for Deutsche, launderer to the world) wouldn't loan him money. His "deal-making" had made him a pariah -- a guy no one wanted to do business with. And no one had to! So he just got used by mobsters...and by Putin, making a cheap bet. 4/
Jeff Zucker and the Apprentice helped fix that. If New Yorkers still knew he was a fool, the rest of the country (thanks to the magic of editing) met a "successful, billionaire master of the deal." And that's how he ran for President -- with some help from Putin, cashing in. 5/
But Trump's the same guy, thrashing around, trying to prove to Dead Daddy that he's not an idiot who would've been much much wealthier if he'd just put his massive inheritance in a checking account. He threatens banks, vendors, and suppliers -- but now they're other countries. 6/
And for the first time in his life, people aren't immediately walking away. Because when he does his dumb deal stuff, he's got the U.S. behind him. Other countries need the U.S.! Ukraine sure did. So he can pound tables and posture and pout, and they'll still negotiate! 7/
He has come to realize this. And he loves it! Everyone respects Trump! Everyone wants to do deals with Trump! And when Trump threatens to sue, he's got the United States DOJ behind him! 8/
And his followers LOVE the performance. "Look at him! He's gonna make China CAVE! Check out the NATO people promising to pay more money! We're winning!" They think he's a great deal-maker (thanks, again Jeff Zucker) when it's just that he has a brand everyone needs. 9/
Until they don't. He's making the United States smaller, less necessary. Remember the G7 in 2018? Trump forcing everyone to beg him to work with the group? 10/ 
This year, they went on without him. 11/
Trump's criminal clown show of advisors and Cabinet members, his coarsening of public service and dialogue -- they're making the United States a crass punchline. And the world is discovering they don't need us quite as much. Soybeans can found elsewhere. Ideals, too. 12/
The @GOP is aware of this, but they don't care because power and money have become the essential drivers of the party. So they try to edit the bad stuff out, like the Apprentice did, by hiding it in secret servers or saying things like: Crimes aren't crimes.
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But in the end, he'll do what he's always done: destroy his brand. Only now, it's ours. 🇺🇸 /end
