Getting ready for the next Trump crisis

Today, U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to give a speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

We’ll have more on that speech later.

But if past major Trump speeches are any measure, today’s speech will include a list of Trump’s grievances, real and imagined, along with self-aggrandizing lies. It will be more an opportunity for complaint than a demonstration of statesmanship.

But to warm up for Davos, here’s a much smaller speech. You have to listen to what people say, even to the smallest groups, even about the smallest things, to get an idea about their true measure.

This is Trump, meeting with the NHL’s Florida Panthers on Jan. 15 to congratulate them on their Stanley Cup win.

And congratulate them he does, singling out individual players for their efforts. But not for long.

The players may be being feted at the White House, but it’s the Trump show.

Trump: “And team Captain Aleksander Barkov known as Barky, was named the best defensive forward in the league for the third time in the second straight year. That’s great. Where’s Barky? Where are those two guys? Good looking people, young, beautiful people, I hate them. You hate standing here with all this power behind you. But I got power too, it’s called the United States military. I don’t care.”

Then, the list of, shall we politely say, falsehoods.

Trump: “You know, I got the Olympics and we got it brought to a very special place. We have the Olympics coming up very soon and we have the World Cup coming and we have the 250th year coming. So, when I got rigged, when you had a rigged election, I was really angry about it. Then I realized if I win the next time, I’ll pick up the Olympics, the World Cup and the 250.”

Trump: “But I just want to congratulate everybody. These are special people, very, very hard to win, especially at the top level of sports. And this is the top, top level and it’s an honor to have these guys with us. You know, I want my people to win. We have such incredible people. So many here, congressmen, senators and cabinet members and they’ve really produced — they’re producing like we’re having a year the likes of which — really so far, there’s no comparison to any other first year for an administration.”

“We have — the tremendous crime numbers just came out. Did you see? The lowest crime ever recorded. Now you wouldn’t see that when you see what’s going on. But when you see what’s going on in Minnesota, we’re taking out the worst — some of the worst criminals in the world are being taken out of our country, murderers, drug dealers, some of the worst in the world.”

“We have the lowest crime, the best crime numbers we’ve ever had. And we have something else that’s very special. We have (US)$18 trillion … $18 trillion worth of investment in the United States, which is bigger than any number, bigger than any number… Everybody — everybody’s happy and we’re doing a job and they’re doing a job.”

Then, Trump notices the Panthers have brought a hockey stick and a jersey.

Trump: “I heard they have a little surprise. Oh, that looks nice. I hope it’s a stick and not just a shirt. That stick looks beautiful — that looks beautiful. Maybe I get both. Who the hell knows. I’m president, I’ll just take them.”

Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States.

What happens today, and what will Trump decide he has the right to take?

In his own words, who the hell knows?