Donald Trump is so eager to be sucked up to and have his every preference catered to that he apparently misses how condescending Republican lawmakers’ attempts to do so are. It’s not just House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy having a staffer sort through Starburst so he could give Trump a gift of just his two favorite flavors, treating him as a tantrum-prone child to be coddled is common among Republicans.
“He’s a person who is susceptible to hearing different arguments and being persuaded by people who are making good arguments,” said Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Thune (S.D.). “And I think in the end, he’s a guy who wants to get to a deal. And so I think when people come in and make their case, it sometimes has an effect.”
Well, isn’t that just the politest way of saying “he’s influenced by the last person he talked to” you’ve ever heard.
Aides said Schumer was having so much luck because of his personal bonhomie with Trump, and they encouraged legislative leaders to make small talk or try to forge a personal connection. In one example earlier this year, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) brought Trump a personalized Louisville Slugger bat.
A personalized baseball bat. What is he, eight?
But Trump doesn’t mind being treated as an eight-year-old as long as he’s treated as the most important eight-year-old in the world and told he’s amazing all the time. And Republicans are happy to do it if it gets them what they want.