There's no apparent end to Trump's government shutdown, the stock market has been nosediving, his former top allies are facing indictments or awaiting sentencing and his defense secretary just resigned in anger over Trump’s order for a complete withdrawal from Syria. Just how bad is the news cycle for Donald Trump? Bad enough that his aides convinced him to do what he's avoided doing for two whole years—visit American troops in Iraq.
"President Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas," said White House press person Sarah Sanders on Twitter.
And don't they all look happy to see him? What a treat for everybody.
So the good news is he's out of the country, even if it took the worst month of his "administration" to coax him into finally doing what past presidents have done as matter of course. The bad news is he's expected to come back. Oh, and there's no word on whether he'll stop by for a round of golf at one of his overseas clubs, as he has during past overseas trips.
In the meantime, the federal government remains closed, holiday vacations for essential federal workers have been canceled while others have been furloughed and nobody has any idea when, or if, they'll next be paid. Just as a reminder.