Erick Erickson on Trump's 'New Trick' and Second Term Strategy

Trump's Evolving Political Strategy

• 💡 Erick Erickson coins a new term, "gabbard them," to describe President Trump's tactic of appointing individuals and then ignoring them if they prove ineffective or inconvenient.
• 🎯 This strategy aims to avoid giving political opponents a "win" by publicly disavowing appointees, instead choosing to sideline or marginalize them.

Handling Appointee 'Scalps'

• ⚠️ Erickson contrasts Trump's approach with past instances, like the attorney general nominee, where he did "hand over the scalp," suggesting a shift towards doubling down on decisions.
• 📌 The current tactic involves keeping individuals in their positions but not listening to them, particularly during an election year, to avoid negative headlines.

Commander Bavino's Role

• 🚀 Commander Bavino, described as a capable but potentially "out there" individual, has been moved back to his sector, which Erickson interprets not as a pullback but a strategic adjustment.
• ⚡ Bavino is seen as a potential "icarus" figure, who "flew too close to the sun" and may take the fall for broader issues.

Republican Intra-Party Dynamics

• 🗣️ Senator Tom Tillis's criticism of an appointee highlights a division within the Republican party, with a small group willing to publicly challenge Trump.
• ⏳ Erickson suggests that Trump no longer cares about these intra-party fights, especially as he is not running for office again, which poses a problem for Republicans needing his engagement for the midterms.
• ✅ Trump's engagement is seen as being "on the ballot" himself, motivating the faithful to turn out to vote.