The Head Of State

Many people, including me, are appalled by the president's solipsistic performance in front of the Boy Scouts yesterday. I like what political scientist Jonathan Bernstein says about why it was bad:

[I]t was yet another terrible violation of his responsibilities

Why? Because the president of the United States is, as introductory courses on American government will tell you, both the "head of government" and the "head of state." And this kind of appearance, talking to the Boy Scouts, is a "head of state" moment, one in which it's his responsibility to speak for the whole nation. He did not do so; he spoke, as he always does, only for himself and those who support him. To speak this way in a "head of state" moment implies that those who don't support their president are not fully American. 

My guess, by the way, is that this kind of behavior is self-defeating. The ability to represent the United States as a whole -- to be a symbol of the nation -- is a political asset for any president, and one that Trump has squandered by this kind of behavior. I certainly can't prove that there's any direct connection between Trump's refusal to put partisan politics aside and his terrible approval ratings in the early months of his presidency, but it stands to reason that those whom he consistently alienates, even in the moments that are normally inclusive, would never give him a chance. 

Again, there are plenty of even worse things this president has done. And of course anyone can pick out mild instances in which previous presidents acted a bit partisan in "head of state" situations. But Trump does it consistently and blatantly; there's nothing "a bit" about it. It's sad, and yes, I do consider it a violation of his oath of office. 

Read the post here.