Trump creates conditions in which dissent is not welcome
It’s an eerily familiar pattern: Trump sees criticism, Trump resents criticism, and Trump lashes out at those responsible for the criticism. In this case, Vanity Fair published a piece late yesterday with unkind words about the restaurant at Trump Tower, leading the president-elect to put aside the work he’s supposed to be doing, fire up Twitter, and announce his contempt for the publication that’s slighted him.
This obviously isn’t how U.S. leaders are supposed to conduct themselves – especially in public – and it’s not how Trump should be spending his time. But even more jarring is the frequency of these incidents.
.. The common thread isn’t subtle: those who cross Trump should expect to face consequences.
.. The less tangible threat … is to the willingness of dissidents to criticize the Trump government, out of fear that Trump will harm their businesses, or that his unhinged supporters will harm their families.