It is unfortunate that Donald Trump exhibits his crass and crude behavior when he is in the White House, that bastion of history and solemnity. People expect more of their president, and omitting unacceptable behavior is little to ask. Let Trump be himself at his Florida resort Mar-a-Lago, his many golf course resorts, and in Trump Tower, but not in the people’s house.
Often POTUS gives spontaneous tours to his friends, senators, and other people. Early into his presidency, Trump popped out from behind a screen and scared touring school children so badly that they screamed.
With the adults, he regularly pointed out where President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky had sex. He and told a TV anchor in 2017:
‘We’ve remodeled it since then.’
According to a newly released book Team of Vipers (January 29, 2019) former White House aide Cliff Sims wrote that another time, Trump said this before interrupting himself:
‘I’m told this is where Bill and Monica . . .”
The commander-in-chief gave the Clemson Tigers football team fast-food and then a tour of the Oval Office. Presidential historian Douglas Brinkley said:
‘Most people want to keep parts of the White House private for their families and themselves. He’s very restless and doesn’t like desk work. He’d rather roam around and B.S. with people than hunker down.’
The president also offers a running commentary about what is on his mind at the time of his tours. He told a Congressional group:
‘There was no collusion. It’s completely insane!’
What Trump dislikes the most are the flies that tend to come into the White House. Apparently, the people working there do not appear to be able to get rid of them. The president called the insects:
‘Swarming everywhere.’
Trump was upset that the West Wing offices and bathroom did not come up to his gold standard. Sims wrote that the president oversaw an “extensive renovation,” which he controlled. The author wrote:
‘Cosmetic updates happen with the transition of each new administration, of course, but I doubt any president has ever been as hands-on as The Donald.’
Trump adores the White House chandeliers, calling them “beautiful, just really luxurious.” Then, there were the many television sets that Trump installed. Sims wrote about POTUS’ “Super TiVo” system. The president said:
‘I think it’s one of the greatest inventions.’
After Trump has had dinner with Congressional guests, it was not uncommon for the president to say “You want to see the Lincoln Bedroom?” Then, he led his guests upstairs noting how unusually tall President Abraham Lincoln was and how short the traditional bed:
‘I don’t know how he slept there. He was a really tall guy!’
The man currently sitting in the Oval Office claimed that the Oval Office had a hole in the wall, that the oval-shaped room was in “rough shape” until he got there and spun his golden decorating touch all over it.
Then during one tour, Trump moved on to criticize President Barack Obama, saying his predecessor watched television there — ironic coming from a man who reportedly watches up to eight hours of television per day. POTUS brought in a huge flat-screen TV to replace the smaller one in the room and told the tour that Obama:
‘He just sat in here and watched basketball all day.’
President George W. Bush’s aide said his boss rarely took people into the residence portion of the White House. Obama only took close friends there, according to one of his aides. The Washington Post wrote:
‘Trump, by contrast, has summoned hundreds, if not thousands, of people upstairs, aides said.’
The only place Trump does not tour is his private bedroom suite. Aides say that the president’s residence has been divided into quarters. They also say that First Lady Melania Trump gives far fewer tours than her husband.
Featured image is a screenshot via YouTube.
