Trump's 'unity' message disintegrates as 'softer' image lasts just minutes: WaPo editors

President-elect Donald Trump has been trying to strike a more moderate and conciliatory tone — but he couldn't even make it through an interview before that "softer" mask slipped, wrote The Washington Post's editorial board in a scathing analysis Tuesday.

Speaking on "Meet the Press" Sunday, Trump said many things to cement a message that he'd treat those who voted for him “every bit as well” as “the greatest MAGA supporters” and that he wants “unity.”

He said "he wants 'dreamers', undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children, to be able to remain in the country, saying he would work with Democrats to settle their status," wrote the board.

"Additionally, Mr. Trump said that he would not restrict the national availability of abortion medication, and that the United States will 'absolutely' remain in NATO, as long as other member states spend what they have pledged on defense" — although, the board noted, Congress already made it illegal for him to pull out of NATO.

And he suggested threatened tariffs on imported goods won't be permanent, and that he won't use the DOJ to pursue retribution.

The problem was that halfway into the interview, the real Trump emerged, the Post wrote.

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It began when Trump made clear he plans to fire FBI Director Christopher Wray if he won't resign voluntarily — clearing the way for far-right conspiracy theorist Kash Patel to take the reins.

"He suggested also that members of the special House committee that probed the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, including former GOP congresswoman Liz Cheney, 'should go to jail' for supposedly lying and deleting evidence uncovered during the investigation" — without any explanation of what law they broke or what evidence he has they were lying.

And he once again pledged mass pardons for January 6 rioters, including those convicted of assaulting police officers.

Democrats, wrote the board, should try to hold Trump to his promises to reach across the aisle — and put on all the resistance they can muster to his ongoing vows to attack the rule of law and go after his enemies.

"The opposition party should take all opportunities to work with the president-elect when it can — and oppose him on the big issues he gets wrong, of which there will undoubtedly be many," the board concluded.

"In short, as Mr. Trump approaches his second term, prepare for the worst — but do not assume it at every turn."