The Trump team has the bureaucracy in a box.
[Update a while later]
Don't imagine Trump as a 4D chess player.
— Devon Eriksen (@Devon_Eriksen_) February 7, 2025
That's the wrong metaphor.
Imagine him instead as a fencer. He has a sword, which is a very simple tool, with a very simple purpose: pointy end goes in the other guy.
Then remember this Bruce Lee quote:
"I fear not the man who has… https://t.co/h5V4lnztp6
I think this explains the “America will take over Gaza” with the Israeli Prime Minister standing there with a knowing smile. I don’t think Mr. Netanyahu exactly knew what was going on but he figured it must be Trumpian.
After the bruhaha calmed down, representatives of Egypt and Jordan weighed in, “no, no, don’t worry, we will take care of post-war reconstruction in Gaza.”
“The Times and the fired officials smelled a Trump trap.
“The prospect of getting dragged into court,” an alarmed Times observed, “may be exactly what Mr. Trump’s lawyers are hoping for.””
Regardless of intent or any scheming for this to happen, it was the natural outcome of anything Trump would do. Lawfare was to be expected. It is less of an intentional strategy than testicular fortitude to engage in a fight.
Trump could prevail on these issues but maybe not and we wouldn’t know unless he had the testicular fortitude to try. The issues of executive power to control the executive branch and birthright citizenship are questions that need answered so that we know where we stand and what work needs done.
I’m not too sure this is a victory. I’m pretty sure all those missiles fired from Gaza into Israel didn’t come into Gaza through Israel. Whatever the government of Egypt wants has very little to do with what Egyptian officials actually do, most especially, when money is at stake.
That ESR tweet cracks me up. He’s normally a smart guy.