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Donald Trump
Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP
How do I convey unpleasant truths to the boss?
This is a task that White House employees haven't been bothered about in the past four years, because bad messages have often enough meant dismissal for the person delivering them.
So who says Donald Trump that his defeat in the presidential election will not be prevented by lawsuits against the electoral authorities?
Various US media unanimously report that the group of those in the White House who judged the election to be over had grown even before the Biden victory was announced - but that none of this group dared to make the president aware of this to upset.
Trump has not appeared in front of the cameras since his appearance on Thursday, when he called the votes still to be counted illegal and painted a conspiracy of "big media, big money and big data" on the wall.
He does what he always does when he sulks, sending out Twitter messages telling his own version of the truth.
Even Fox News keeps its distance
One thing he used to do in moments when he was angry, however, will no longer calm him down - turn on Fox News.
The broadcaster, previously loyal to him, had already distanced itself, like other conservative media supporters, from Trump's anti-democratic reaction to the emerging election result.
Fox has also named Biden as the election winner.
And of all people, the popular Fox presenter Laura Ingraham, one of his most ardent supporters since 2016, warned the still-president to recognize his defeat with dignity and calm when the time comes.
An option that is apparently out of the question for Trump.
As various sources from his entourage report, at no point did he prepare for a so-called
concession speech
, the speech with which losers in the election recognize the opponent's victory.
As CNN reports, citing informants in the White House, Trump has been calling long-standing supporters in the last few days and nights to keep them loyal to him in his fight.
Allegedly, he also expressed his displeasure about how badly his team had prepared the lawsuit strategy announced before the election.
As the "Washington Post" reports, legal advisors in the Trump community complained that the campaign was more about
public relations
and
politics
than about consistent legal procedures.
Nevertheless, according to the magazine "Politico", Trump is said to have won over a number of important Republican politicians in this way, who in turn were able to encourage their own supporters to support Trump in the campaign, which has so far been financially poorly funded.
The lost kingdom
The mood in the immediate vicinity of Trump could not brighten that either.
The Washington Post quotes an anonymous White House source who sarcastically conjured up a Shakespeare royal drama scenario: "Everyone knows he's lost, but nobody is willing to tell King Lear or Mad King George they are have lost the kingdom. "
Those who are actually called to prepare Trump for the end of the reign, to stick with Shakespeare, include his vassals Mark Meadows and Mike Pence.
But CNN reportedly heard from dissatisfied members of the staff that Chief of Staff Meadows was until recently feeding Trump further falsehoods about the legal options to keep him happy.
And Vice President Pence also maintains the illusion that he can legally stop the defeat.
He even continues to diligently raise funds for the campaign instead of thinking with Trump about an orderly withdrawal from the White House.
Trump is said to have considered the possibility of losing the race against Joe Biden even in the summer.
At least that is what "New York Magazin" reports, citing an adviser to the president.
On election day itself, the informant said, Trump knew that the election was over.
But because he raged against all employees and consultants in his frustration, they all ducked away or whispered lies to him.
On election night itself, the situation then got out of hand.
Trump exploded because his ex-favorite Fox Biden in Arizona saw the front, and because his opponent took the opportunity in front of him to appear in front of the cameras.
When Trump then "STOP THE COUNT!"
tweeted, had to remind his folks first that ending the count at this point would have meant defeat as he was behind Joe Biden.
Then, according to the informant, the idea would have been finally agreed with the "legal" and the "illegal" votes.
Meanwhile, according to CNN, all hopes should be on Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump.
You should make it clear to Trump that he has to find the right time to recognize the truth.
Otherwise it would not only block any return to politics, but also damage the family's business activities.
Perhaps not the worst persuasion strategy: if Donald Trump does not understand the signs of the times as a politician, then perhaps as a businessman.
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