Donald Trump relies heavily on a basic rule of behaviour: to win, one must never apologise.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But sometimes life offers no choice but to back down, and when that happens to Trump, his method is to retreat and then double down.
On Tuesday, President Trump felt compelled to pull back on his statement that embraced Russian President Vladimir Putin's version of the 2016 presidential campaign interference story over the facts presented by US intelligence services.
Trump saw that he had to respond to a torrent of criticism. But the way he did it was classic Trump, a dual message - a ritual statement of confidence in US intelligence officials, and winks and nods to his rusted-on supporters.
He read from the paper: "Let me be totally clear in saying that I accept our intelligence community's conclusion that Russia's meddling in the 2016 election took place."
Then he looked up. Change of tone: "Could be other people also. A lot of people out there."
Trump has always been frank about his belief that they are a sign of weakness.
He didn't apologise for calling Haiti and African nations "shithole countries". He didn't apologise for slamming John McCain as a "loser" who was no war hero "because he was captured".
Last year, after white nationalist demonstrators marched through Charlottesville and attacked counterprotesters, Trump condemned the “display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides."
While ostensibly clarifying his position the next day, Trump doubled down: "I think there is blame on both sides. What about the alt-left that came charging at, as you say, the alt-right, do they have any semblance of guilt?… I think they do.”
Insult, grudging apology, double down. Repeat.
Washington Post