In the first days and weeks of President Donald Trump's tenure in the White House, Americans across the country urged others to give him a chance, believing that his antics on the 2016 campaign trail wouldn't move into the White House with him.
His defenders insisted that Trump would realize the gravity of the office to which he'd been elected and adjust his behavior and actions accordingly.
With an average approval rating that's never risen above 50 percent, it would appear the American public doesn't think Trump has risen to that occasion.
The President has told over 20 thousand lies since inauguration day, he's routinely used his Twitter feed to bully everyone from his enemies to his own administration officials, and—as another election year comes to pass—there's evidence that he is seeking foreign assistance to secure a victory in 2020.
Trump is currently facing a pandemic that's completely upended daily life in the United States.
After months of undermining his administration's health experts and dismissing the threat posed by the virus, Trump offered his most vocal endorsement yet for wearing a mask.
We are United in our effort to defeat the Invisible China Virus, and many people say that it is Patriotic to wear a… https://t.co/zcdVQe2vRn— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1595274226.0
Trump's critics routinely point out the President's reluctance to wear a mask in public or to throw his support behind mask use, a move they say has politicized a simple action that makes a significant difference in keeping the pandemic at bay.
While the tweet was a welcome change from the President's previous actions, a recent headline from ABC News gave him far too much credit, according to Twitter.
THE NOTE: The president is displaying a new tone and a new level of engagement, after aides and allies have pleaded… https://t.co/Tc8LPaVHbz— ABC News Politics (@ABC News Politics) 1595350024.0
The piece links to commentary from ABC Political Director Rick Klein, who notes the President's change in tone.
Klein argues that the election is coming close enough for Trump to consider campaign priorities such as optics and decorum in order to win a second term.
The piece acknowledges that this might not be forever:
"The latest course correction may not last, and may not matter. But political survival is a strong motivating force, and the window for positioning appears to be closing even as the big choices mount."
People widely labeled the hope for a sudden emergence of self-awareness or contrition from Trump as naive.
He caged Latino children He bombed Yemeni civilians He deported American Veterans He denied tests during a pandemic… https://t.co/sawWsnUS14— Qasim Rashid for Congress (@Qasim Rashid for Congress) 1595357735.0
@ABCPolitics @rickklein After all these years, that sounds like some seriously naive and insipid analysis. Why did… https://t.co/aECgVrv6eW— southpaw (@southpaw) 1595353166.0
@ABCPolitics @rickklein NO— Kathy Griffin (@Kathy Griffin) 1595355285.0
@ABCPolitics @rickklein Even Charlie Brown didn't try to kick the football *EVERY* time Lucy set it down...— Ben Wexler (@Ben Wexler) 1595353234.0
@ABCPolitics Love to have a piano fall on my head, giving me a high-grade concussion and long-term memory loss, and… https://t.co/kDmUsBWXOQ— Jason O. Gilbert (@Jason O. Gilbert) 1595353400.0
Receipts were brought.
@ABCPolitics @rickklein this is from *checks notes* this morning https://t.co/7V2AZFSUGm— David Mack (@David Mack) 1595353814.0
@ABCPolitics @rickklein Possibly @rickklein missed it but it actually didn't last past last night, when he showed u… https://t.co/zaXBYvSpoX— Eric Schmeltzer 🇺🇸 (@Eric Schmeltzer 🇺🇸) 1595352969.0
@ABCPolitics @rickklein oh come on, how many times are you people going to fall for this? from three years ago:… https://t.co/GyOy0vMQa5— Jeff Tiedrich (@Jeff Tiedrich) 1595352339.0
People had questions.
@ABCPolitics @rickklein You know the phrase “new tone” is basically satire at this point, right?— Matthew Hazen (@Matthew Hazen) 1595361306.0
@ABCPolitics @rickklein What fresh hell is this?— Amy Siskind 🏳️🌈 (@Amy Siskind 🏳️🌈) 1595353608.0
@ABCPolitics @rickklein Ummm...huh?— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald) 1595353618.0
The President will resume his virus task force briefings today after a weeks-long hiatus. His tone—old or otherwise—is expected to be on full display.