Melania Trump beats Donald at his own game

Twenty-four hours after Melania Trump went public about her displeasure with the deputy national security adviser, the first lady’s husband did her bidding and sent Mira Ricardel packing. Melania showed she knows how to play like a Trump and the President is likely none too happy about it.

Melania Trump has distinguished herself from her husband by showing concern for the asylum-seeking families he separated at the border and developing an anti-bullying initiative. The goodness in these activities, both of which contrast with her husband’s cruelty, gave her the standing to act against Ricardel.

Melania Trump’s challenge was perfectly timed. She added one more problem to his agenda — one he could only resolve by allowing himself to be humbled.

The lessons in this episode are many. First, it’s plain Mrs. Trump knows her husband’s game and can play it. Second, the President can be beaten. Third, and most importantly, he’s his own worst enemy, the victim of the concept that everything is about winning and losing and that defeat comes with humiliation. As a man who has always acted with this calculus in mind, he cannot trust that anyone will feel genuine concern for his feelings. The man who relishes humiliating others is destined to suffer it himself.

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