Sunday 10 January 2021

Is Trump not talking to Pence or Pence not talking to Trump?

Donald Trump, president of the United States, and Mike Pence, vice president of the United States, are not talking to each other and haven't done so apparently since Wednesday. Yes THAT Wednesday. Is this unprecedented? Neither wants to talk to each for slightly different reasons. Trump doesn't want a conversation with Pence because he now regards his deputy as the ultimate traitor for failing to overrule the election result as he was requested to do prior to the January 6th confirmation by Congress. And Pence I guess is fearful of ringing Trump because he knows, if he does, either he will have the phone slammed down or he will be sworn at and shouted at. The trouble is if these two never talk to each other again what the hell happens to the process of government over the next ten days? Who will Cabinet members trust to ring if they need a decision? So far none of the top officials from the National Security Council have resigned. Mike Pompeo is still secretary of state. Christopher Miller is still acting defence secretary. Gina Haspell is still CIA director. But what if something big pops up unexpectedly? Like something outrageous by Iran or North Korea? Or Russia? Or China? Trump won't be trusted to make a rational decision, Pence has been put into cold storage, so do we all wait until January 20th for Joe Biden to make the decision? That could be seen as a fatal sign of weakness on America's part. Superpower politics is supposed to be for grown-ups. But if Trump and Pence don't start talking to each other who the hell is in charge? My advice? Pick up the phone. Trump or Penc. And get on with smooth-running government to reassure the world that the White House has not become a disfunctioning Mad House.

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