Desperate measures

President Donald Trump has become increasingly rattled over the potential of an economic downturn and is spinning to find victories to sell to voters.

  CNN

Trump is just going to blame any downturn on the Fed and the Democrats. He's already been loading that argument.

[H]is own aides have admitted much of it is because of his trade war with China. Trump refuses to give up on [that] tactic, saying it would make him look weak.

[...]

Trump flashed signs of optimism this week that the trade war could be resolved, saying he's received calls from Chinese officials saying they wanted to restart talks. Though Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin insisted there had been "communication," aides privately conceded the phone calls Trump described didn't happen they way he said they did.

You don't say.

Instead, two officials said Trump was eager to project optimism that might boost markets, and conflated comments from China's vice premier with direct communication from the Chinese.

Were there even any calls?

The economy is flashing warning signs Trump didn't expect, his trade war with China is dragging on months longer than expected yet he refuses to give in and his chief promise to supporters -- that he would build a wall along the southern border -- has gone unfulfilled.

[...]

Trump has recently told aides he would pardon them if they committed illegal acts while fulfilling his demand to build a wall on the southern border by 2020, two officials confirmed to CNN. The Washington Post first reported the pardon comments. While his spokesmen insist he was only kidding, the eyebrow-raising assurances come as Trump has urgently told aides he's serious about finishing the wall -- stressing that it could be key to his reelection.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.