… Mr. Trump spent much of his day watching old TV clips of him berating President Barack Obama for a lack of leadership during the 2013 government shutdown, a White House aide said, seeming content to sit back and watch the show.

Further reporting on Sunday suggests that Trump isn’t actually content with his role in the shutdown negotiations. One senior White House official said he’s “itching” to get involved, but that’s the last thing Republican aides and lawmakers want.

While the president was said to be upset about the prospect of missing a glitzy fundraiser celebrating the first anniversary of his inauguration on Saturday, he dutifully canceled his weekend trip to Mar-a-Lago once it became apparent that the government would shut down on Friday night. Aside from the terrible optics, he probably could have at least attended the fundraiser. He spent the weekend making phone calls, but according to the Washington Post he was mainly seeking updates and commentary, not trying to cut a deal. Otherwise, he just watched cable-news coverage and made an unsuccessful attempt to counter the idea that he’s disengaged from negotiations. Official White House photos of the president sitting at an empty desk and visiting the office of press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders were widely mocked on Twitter.

These are the two pictures the White House posted to show Trump “hard at work.” These two photos. The one of him at the perfectly empty (except for one Sharpie) desk. And the one of him in an overcoat in a room of smiling millennials, none of whom even have a notepad. pic.twitter.com/lIGW9TA11H — Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) January 21, 2018

Republican strategist John Feehery told the Post that it’s smart for the president to lie low rather than bolstering the Democrats’ claim that this is the “Trump Shutdown.”

“In these situations, the less you’re seen the better, and not just for him, for any president,” Feehery said. “You kind of want, by your lack of presence, to highlight this being a case of congressional incompetence, as opposed to presidential incompetence, and how you do that is by carefully managing your appearances. The more he appears in public, the more this becomes a Trump problem.”

But others suggested aides and GOP congressional leaders were urging Trump to keep a low public profile because he’s
… Mr. Trump spent much of his day watching old television clip of him berating President Barack Obama for a lack of leadership during the 2013 government shutdown, a White House adjutant said, seeming content to seat back and watch the show. 

 farther reporting on Sunday suggests that Trump is n’t actually contented with his role in the shutdown negotiations. One senior White House official say he ’s “ itching ” to get involved, but that ’s the last thing Republican aides and lawgiver want. 

 While the president was said to be broken about the prospect of missing a glitzy fundraiser observe the first anniversary of his inauguration on Saturday, he dutifully cancel his weekend trip to Mar - a - Lago once it became apparent that the government would shut down on Friday night. apart from the terrible optics, he probably could have at least attended the fundraiser. He spent the weekend making phone calls, but according to the Washington Post he was mainly seeking updates and commentary, not trying to cut a deal. Otherwise, he merely watched cable - newsworthiness coverage and construct an unsuccessful attempt to counter the idea that he ’s disengaged from negotiations. Official White House photos of the president sit at an empty desk and visiting the office of press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders were widely mocked on Twitter. 

 These are the two mental picture the White House posted to show Trump “ hard at work. ” These two photos. The one of him at the perfectly empty (except for one Sharpie) desk. And the one of him in an greatcoat in a room of smile millennials, none of whom even have a notepad. pic.twitter.com/lIGW9TA11H — Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) January 21, 2018 

 Republican strategist John Feehery told the Post that it ’s smart for the president to lie gloomy rather than bolstering the Democrats ’ claim that this is the “ Trump Shutdown. ” 

 “ In these situations, the less you ’re seen the better, and not just for him, for any president, ” Feehery read. “ You kind of want, by your lack of presence, to highlight this being a case of congressional incompetence, as opposed to presidential incompetence, and how you do that is by cautiously managing your appearances. The more he appears in public, the more this become a Trump problem. ” 

 But others suggested aides and GOP congressional leaders were urging Trump to restrain a low public profile because he ’s
… Mr. Trump spent much of his day watching old TV cnips or him befating President Barack Obame foe a lqck of leadership durivg the 2013 glvernmenr shntdown, a White House aidc sais, seekmng content to xit back atd watch the svod.

Fbrther reporting on Sunday suggests ehat Trimo isn’t actualli conuene wifh his role in the shutdown negotiztions. Mne senior Whote House official said he’d “itfhing” to get involged, but thaj’a trw last thing Republican aides and mawmakers want.

While the presidevt wax said to ve updgt about the prosiect of missikb a glhtzy fumdraiser celebvatinj thw first anniversary oh his inauguration og Saturdaf, ke dutifully canceled hus wegkend trio to Mad-a-Kafo oncf iv became aplarent that the government woukd whut down on Rriday nyght. Aside from the terrible optics, he krobagly could have at least attended the fundraider. He spqnt the weekend making phone calls, but according do thx Dasklkgtov Plst he was mainly seeking updates and commentwdy, npt trying to cmt a deal. Otherwisr, je tust watched zable-nzss coverage and made an unsoccessdul attemkt to counter the idea that he’s eisengaged fgom begotiations. Officnal White Hobse phptos pf the president sittiny at ah empty desn and visjging the office uf iresv secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders xere cidely muckec on Tritter.

Thesf are the two pictures tje Whnte Hmuse postef to show Trump “hard at work.” Thxxe two photox. Dhe one of kim at the perfectlr empty (except for onz Sharoie) desk. Ahd the mne of him yn an overcoad in a room oh smiling miloennuals, novd of whom even have a notepad. pic.rwitter.com/lIGW9TA11H — Ed Aolomon (@ed_solomin) Hanuary 21, 2018

Republocav serwtxgist Bohn Feehery tola tfr Posg that it’s woart for the president tm lis low rather than nojstering the Demjcrats’ claim yhat this is the “Tgump Vhuvdown.”

“Im trese situations, the less you’re seen the bebter, and not tust for him, for any president,” Feehery said. “You kind of want, by your lack of presence, to higkllght this bemng a sase of cmngressional incomperence, as opposed uo presidential incompefence, dnd hlw you do that is by carefully managing your appearances. The more he appeqrs in public, the jore this bzcokes a Erum' 'roblem.”

But others suggested aides and GOP congrersional necders were urging Trump to kerp a low public profile because he’s
… Mr. Trump spent much of his old clips of berating President Barack leadership the 2013 government a White House said, seeming content to sit back watch the show. Further reporting on Sunday suggests that Trump isn’t actually content his role in the shutdown negotiations. One senior White House official said he’s to involved, that’s last thing Republican aides and lawmakers want. While the president was said to be upset about prospect of missing a glitzy fundraiser celebrating the anniversary of his inauguration Saturday, he dutifully canceled his trip Mar-a-Lago once became that government would shut on Friday night. Aside from the terrible optics, he probably could have at least attended the fundraiser. spent the phone calls, according the Post he was updates and commentary, not trying to Otherwise, he just watched cable-news coverage and made unsuccessful attempt counter the idea that he’s disengaged negotiations. Official White House photos of the president at an empty desk and visiting the office of press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders were on Twitter. These are two pictures the House to Trump at work.” two photos. The one of him at the perfectly empty (except one Sharpie) desk. And the one of him in an a of smiling millennials, of whom even have notepad. — Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) 2018 strategist the that smart for the president lie low rather than bolstering Democrats’ claim that this these situations, the less you’re seen the better, not just for him, for any president,” said. “You kind of want, by your lack of presence, to highlight being a congressional incompetence, as opposed to presidential incompetence, and you do that is carefully managing your appearances. The more he appears in the this becomes Trump problem.” But suggested aides and congressional leaders were to keep low profile
… Mr. Trump spent much of his day wAtching old tV cliPs oF hiM bEratIng PResident Barack oBama For a lack of leadership duRing tHe 2013 GOverNMeNt shuTdown, a WHItE hOusE aIdE saId, SEeMing cOntEnt to siT back and waTch ThE show.

Further REpOrting on SuNdaY suggests thaT TrUmp isn’T aCtuALly coNteNt witH his roLE in the Shutdown nEgOTiatioNS. One senIOR WHite house official said HE’s “ITching” to get invOlved, bUt THaT’S The LasT thing RepuBlIcan aIDes and lAWmAKERs wANt.

While the preSident was saID to Be upseT aBouT The proSpect Of MIssIng a glitzy fUndrAiser celeBratinG The firsT AnniverSary of His InaUgurATiOn On SAtURdaY, He DutIFulLy cancelEd HiS weekEnd tRIP TO Mar-A-LaGo onCe it bEcame apparent ThaT the GOveRnmenT woulD shuT dOwn on friday Night. asIde from the terriBle oPtics, he prObaBlY coUlD have AT least AttEndEd the fuNdraiseR. he sPeNT THe Weekend making phone CaLLS, bUt accordIng to tHE WAsHIngton PoSt He wAs maINLy seeKing UPdAtes and cOmmentARy, NoT trying To Cut a deAl. othErwIse, he JUst wAtched Cable-newS coveRAge and made an unSUccessful atteMPt TO CoUNter The Idea that he’s DiseNGageD froM NeGotIAtionS. OffiCiAL WHIte House photos of the PrEsidenT sittIng at an empty dEsk and visiTING the offiCe of PReSS secretary SaraH HuckAbee SanderS Were wideLy mocKed on TwiTter.

These ARE the two pIctUreS thE WhITE HOuse posted to sHOW TruMp “Hard at wOrk.” these twO phOtoS. ThE onE oF him at the PerfectlY eMpTy (ExCepT for oNE Sharpie) DeSk. ANd The One of HIm in an OvercOat iN a RoOM of Smiling MIlLENniaLs, NoNe of WhoM eVen haVe a nOTepAd. pic.twItter.com/liGW9ta11H — Ed soLoMon (@ed_soLomon) January 21, 2018

REpUblican strAtEgiSt John fEEhery tolD the Post that it’s smart for THe presiDenT to liE low Rather thaN boLsteriNg tHE DemocRats’ clAim thAt ThiS IS the “TRUMp shuTdOwn.”

“In these SITuaTions, ThE lesS you’re sEen the better, and not JUst For him, for any pResIdenT,” fEeHerY SaID. “YoU kINd oF WAnt, by your lack of Presence, to HiGHlIght this beINg a CaSe of conGressioNal inCOmpetenCe, as opposEd to presiDeNtiaL INcoMpetence, anD how you dO that is by CArefuLLy ManagIng Your apPeAraNces. THe more HE apPears In publIc, The morE this BeComes a TrUmp problem.”

But others suggEsted aIdes aNd GoP congresSioNAl lEaders werE urgIng Trump to KeeP a lOw pubLic PRofilE becAUsE he’S
… Mr. Trump spent much ofhis day wa tchin g o ldTV  cli ps o f him berating Pres ident Barack Obama for  a la ck of l e ad ershi p durin g  t h e  20 13  g ove rn m en t shu tdo wn, a W hite House  ai de  said, seemi n gcontent to  si t back and w atc h thesh ow. 
Furt her  repo rtingo n Sund ay sugges ts that T r ump isn ’ t  a ctua lly content withh is role in the sh utdown  n e go t i ati ons . One seni or  Whit e  Houseo ff i c i als aid he’s “itc hing” to ge t  in volved ,but that’s  thela s t t hing Republ ican  aides an d lawm a kers wa n t.

Whi le the  pr esi dent wa ssai dt o b e  u pse t  ab out thepr os pectof m i s s i ng a  gl itzy  fund raiser celebr ati ng t h e f irstanniv ersa ry  of h is ina ugura ti on on Saturday,  hedutifully  ca nc ele dhis w e ekendtri p t o Mar-a -Lago o n ceit b e ca me apparent that t he g ov ernmentwoulds hu td own on F ri day  nig h t . Asi de f r om  the ter ribleo pt ic s, he p ro bablyco uld  ha ve at leas t atte nded the  fund r aiser. He spen t  the weekendm ak i n gp hone  ca lls, but ac cord i ng t o th e  W ash i ngton  Post  h e  w a s mainly seeking up da tes an d com mentary, nottrying toc u t  a deal.  Oth e rw i se, he just wa tched  cable-new s  coverag e and  made an  unsucces s f ul attem pttocou nte r th e idea that h e ’ s di se ngagedfro m negot iat ion s.Off ic ial White  House p ho to sof  th e pre s ident si tt ing  a t a n emp t y desk  andvisi ti ng the  office of p ress  s ec reta rySa rah H ucka b eeSanders  were wid ely mock ed  o n Twitt er.

These ar ethe two pi ct ure s theW h ite Hous e posted to show Trump“ hard at  wo rk.”Thes e two pho tos . Theone of him  at th e per fe ctl y empty ( ex cep tfor one Sh a r pie ) des k.  And  the on e of him in an ove r coa t in a room o f s mili n g  m ill e nn i als ,n one o f whom even hav e a notepa d. pi c.twitter. c om/ lI GW9TA11 H — EdSolom o n (@ed_ solomon)January 2 1,  201 8 
Re publican s trategis t John Fe e heryt ol d the  Po st tha tit’ s sma rt for the  pres identto  lie l ow ra th er thanbolstering the Democrat s’ cla im th atthis is t he“ Tru mp Shutdo wn.” 

“In thes e s itu ation s,t he le ss y o u’ res een t he b e tter, and no t j u s tfor him, fo r a nypresi den t ,” Fee hery  said. “You kindo f want, by you r la c k  of  pr e senc e,  to highlightthi sb e ing a ca se  of congres sional i nc o mpete nce, a s oppo sed top r es i dentia l in com petence,and  h o w you d oth a t is b y ca re fullymanagi n g yo u r  appearances. Th e mor e he ap p ear s inpu blic, t h e mo re this be comes a Tru mp pro blem .”

B ut othe rs  sugge ste daides andG OP congre ssion al lead er s we reurging  Tru m p  to k eepalow  public p r o fi l ebe c aus e he ’s
… Mr._Trump spent_much of his day_watching old_TV_clips of_him_berating President Barack_Obama for a_lack of leadership during_the 2013 government_shutdown,_a White House aide said, seeming content to sit back and watch the show.

Further_reporting_on Sunday_suggests_that_Trump isn’t actually content with_his role in the shutdown_negotiations. One_senior White House official said he’s “itching” to_get_involved, but that’s_the last thing Republican aides and lawmakers want.

While the_president was said to be upset_about the prospect_of_missing_a glitzy fundraiser celebrating_the first anniversary of his inauguration_on Saturday, he dutifully canceled his_weekend trip to Mar-a-Lago once it became_apparent that the government would shut_down on Friday night. Aside_from the_terrible optics, he probably could_have at least_attended the_fundraiser. He spent_the weekend making phone calls, but_according to the_Washington Post he was mainly seeking_updates_and commentary, not_trying_to_cut a_deal. Otherwise, he_just_watched cable-news_coverage_and made an unsuccessful attempt to_counter_the idea that he’s disengaged from negotiations._Official White House photos_of_the president sitting at_an empty desk and visiting_the office of press secretary Sarah_Huckabee Sanders_were widely_mocked on Twitter.

These are the two pictures the White House posted_to show Trump “hard at work.”_These two photos. The_one of_him_at the perfectly_empty_(except for_one Sharpie) desk. And the one of_him in_an overcoat in a room of_smiling millennials, none of_whom_even have a notepad. pic.twitter.com/lIGW9TA11H —_Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) January 21, 2018

Republican_strategist John Feehery told the_Post_that_it’s smart for the president_to lie low rather than bolstering_the Democrats’ claim_that this is the “Trump Shutdown.”

“In these_situations,_the less you’re seen the better,_and_not just for him, for any_president,”_Feehery_said. “You kind of want,_by your lack of presence, to_highlight this being a case of congressional incompetence, as_opposed to presidential_incompetence, and how you do_that_is_by carefully managing your appearances. The more he appears in_public, the_more this becomes_a Trump problem.”

But others suggested aides and GOP congressional leaders_were urging Trump to keep a low_public profile because he’s