
<p>Those who have followed my commentaries know that I am very critical of Trump’s pugnacious personality. ; It undermines his own messaging. ; When Democrats hand him a political gift wrapped in shiny paper, he rips it open, throws it aside, and proceeds to punch himself in the nose. It is a recurring pattern that leaves Republicans bewildered and Democrats delighted.</p>



<p>The latest example involves a group of Democrat legislators who took to TikTok with a message to rankâandâfile military personnel &#8212; you have the right — even the duty — to disobey illegal orders.</p>



<p>On its face, that statement is true. Soldiers are not required to obey an order to commit murder or robbery. That principle has been embedded in military law for generations. But that is not what these legislators were suggesting. They were not talking about obvious crimes. They were insinuating that many of Trump’s deployment orders are “illegal” and that individual soldiers should simply refuse to obey them if they <em>believe</em> them to be unlawful. ; They should go AWOL when orders to deploy to Chicago or refuse to attack narco boats simply because those on the left claim the orders are illegal,</p>



<p>That is outrageous. It is not the role of privates and corporals to decide military or constitutional questions. Presidents often issue orders that exceed their powers. That is why we have courts. That is why disputes go to the Supreme Court. The military oath is to obey lawful orders, not to freelance constitutional interpretation at a personal level. Encouraging soldiers to disobey based on personal belief undermines discipline, the chain of command, and the very foundation of civilian control of the military.</p>



<p>This should have been a slamâdunk issue for Trump and the GOP. Democrats were openly encouraging disobedience in the ranks. They were essentially telling soldiers to break the law and violate their oath. Any reasonable observer would see that as reckless and dangerous. Public anger should have been directed squarely at those legislators.</p>



<p>But Trump could not resist. Instead of calmly pointing out the irresponsibility of the Democrats, he accused them of “seditious conspiracy” and reminded everyone that the ultimate punishment for such an offense is the death penalty. That was a gross exaggeration. It was unnecessary. And it shifted the spotlight from the Democrats’ misconduct to Trump’s rhetoric.</p>



<p>Once again, Trump gave away the high ground. He turned what should have been a winning issue into another controversy about his words. The Democrats, who should have been on the defensive, suddenly had the opportunity to play the victim. They took to the airwaves claiming that Trump had ordered their deaths. Arizona Senator Mark Kelly even absurdly linked Trump’s comments to the assassination of Charlie Kirk — a nonsensical connection that nevertheless gained traction because Trump had opened the door with his reckless language.</p>



<p>This is the Trump pattern. He takes a legitimate grievance, exaggerates it, and hands the advantage to his opponents. He did it when he called the press “the enemy of the people.” He did it when he suggested injecting disinfectant during the pandemic. He did it when he claimed the 2020 election was stolen without producing evidence that could stand up in court. Each time, he transforms a defensible position into a public relations disaster.</p>



<p>The irony is that Democrats themselves use dangerous and provocative language. They routinely call Trump a fascist, a Hitlerâlike dictator who would destroy the Republic. Such rhetoric has motivated wouldâbe assassins. Yet instead of exposing that hypocrisy, Trump responds with words that allow Democrats to flip the narrative.</p>



<p>Why does he do it? Part of the answer lies in Trump’s personality. He thrives on confrontation. He believes that escalation shows strength. He equates moderation with weakness. But in politics, escalation often means losing the argument. The public tunes out the substance and focuses on the spectacle.</p>



<p>Another part of the answer is Trump’s inability to resist the spotlight. He cannot let a story develop without inserting himself into it. Even when Democrats are digging their own hole, Trump jumps in to make sure the cameras are on him. The result is predictable: the Democrats climb out, dust themselves off, and point to Trump as the problem.</p>



<p>Republicans should be frustrated. They know that discipline and message control win elections. They know that Democrats are vulnerable when they encourage lawlessness in the military. But they also know that Trump will not change. He will continue to punch himself in the nose, and the GOP will continue to bleed.</p>



<p>The tragedy is that Trump could have had the high ground. He could have calmly explained that military obedience is essential, that disputes over presidential authority belong in the courts, and that legislators encouraging disobedience are undermining national security. That would have put Democrats on the defensive. Instead, he exaggerated, threatened, and handed them the advantage.</p>



<p>So, the question remains: why does Trump keep saying things that work against him and the GOP? The answer is simple. He cannot help himself. He confuses bluster with strength, exaggeration with persuasion, and confrontation with victory. Until he learns that restraint can be more powerful than rage, he will continue to give Democrats the gift of his own selfâinflicted wounds.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>

Trump Shoots Himself in the Foot … Again
