I was still puzzling over this one-liner quote from President Trump's remarks at the Gridiron Club dinner for journalists -- almost a week before the meeting with Kim was announced. As published by CNN, this comment referred to Trump's openness to direct talks with Kim Jong Un.
"I won't rule out direct talks with Kim Jong Un. I just won't. As far as the risk of dealing with a madman is concerned, that's his problem, not mine."
HUH? Was this a misquote? Is he really saying that he, himself, is the madman? So I looked up the full transcript -- and learned that it was in the self-deprecatory humor part of his speech. Oh. So, Trump is actually capable of being ironic, if someone else writes the lines for him.
It didn't last. The first part was indeed self-deprecatory, as is the usual thing at this kind of good-humored, public roasting. But, being Trump, he couldn't leave it at that. He then turned to his usual vicious attacks on his enemies, and then finally to extolling his own greatness.
But for one brief, shining moment, it was almost as if we were in a different time and place. Not Camelot exactly, but in a land of irony and intelligence and good will. And then Trump returned to being Trump.
Ralph
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