In a list that could probably be longer, the New York Times pulled together seven instances where Donald Trump threatened to use his presidential power to bully a person or an entity-- only to roll over and give up at a later date.
According to Michael Tackett and Linda Qiu of the Times, "For President Trump, a threat is frequently his first impulse," before adding, "But his threats often remain just that."
Using Trump giving up on his most recent plan to close the border between the U.S. and Mexico as a springboard, the correspondents took at look at some of Trump's most famous humiliating defeats after making a big show of demanding obedience.
Naturally, the list began with the border closure debacle which ended with the President postponing it for a year -- and then moving the goalposts by tying it to a trade deal that hasn't even been voted on yet.
A selection of other threats as yet unfulfilled below, via the New York Times:
- "The president warned Russia in March to 'get out' of Venezuela after Moscow dispatched military personnel to the country and offered to send the government of President Nicolás Maduro shipments of food and medicine," the report states before adding that Russia called Trump's bluff by showing "no outward signs of backing down, and Mr. Maduro has refused Mr. Trump’s calls that he resign."
- Trump also demanded G.M. reopen an auto plant in Lordstown, and "threatened to cut subsidies for the company and to recoup federal money it had received from the bailout at the height of the financial crisis of 2008." GM made no such move and "so far has not suffered any penalty from the government."
- The president has often railed against the media on Twitter, including calling for the F.C.C. to investigate networks he feels are unfriendly to him and possibly pull their broadcasting licenses. Unfortunately for Trump, "Ajit Pai, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, said that his agency 'does not have the authority to revoke a license of a broadcast station based on the content'."
- "Mr. Trump also threatened in 2018 to end birthright citizenship, a constitutional guarantee that could only be undone by amending the Constitution," only to be told that he, as president, can't overrule the Constitution.
- The president also bizarrely threatened to cut off funds to California over the wildfires. However, as the Times reports, "Federal cost-sharing for debris removal actually increased to 90 percent from 75 percent, and the agency provided more than $347 million in grants and loans to affected residents."
- Finally, Trump threatened to out fired FBI Director as a liar by hinting he might have tapes of conversations they had before his dismissal.To date, Trump has released no Oval Office audiotapes.
You can read more here.
