A Numerical Look at Recent Events
During the festive season, a classic song describes an extravagant gift of 364 presents. This prompts a reflection on recent developments involving Donald Trump.
Recent Activities and Claims
In early December, the White House provided Oval Office logs to the New York Post, indicating Trump worked 12-hour days. This countered a New York Times report about a lighter schedule. The following day, he appeared to fall asleep during a cabinet meeting.
In a December speech, Trump claimed, "Over the past 11 months, we have brought more positive change to Washington than any administration in American history. There has never been anything like it."
He is seeking $10 billion in damages from the BBC, accusing it of doctoring his January 6 speech. The BBC apologized for an edit but plans to defend the lawsuit. Trump has also claimed the BBC "used AI," which is not mentioned in the legal complaint.
Regarding a new White House ballroom, Trump stated it would seat 999 people. The estimated cost rose from $200 million to $400 million by December, with funding from donors raising ethics questions.
A drawing in Epstein's birthday book contained 8 lines of imagined dialogue with Trump, which he denies writing.
A recent poll shows 7% of Americans find living costs unaffordable, with 61% saying the economy isn't working for them.
In November, Trump accused 6 Democratic lawmakers of "seditious behavior, punishable by death" after they posted a video. He also reposted a comment saying, "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!" When asked if Trump wants to execute members of Congress, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said he does not.
By late November, Trump deployed federal troops to 5 major U.S. cities: Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC, Memphis, and Portland, citing crime concerns. He later mentioned plans for New Orleans.
Unemployment reached 4.6% in December, a level not seen in 4 years.
Trump appeared to fall asleep at 3 official events over two months, including an Oval Office meeting and a marijuana reclassification event. After one incident, Leavitt said, "President Trump was listening attentively and running the entire three-hour marathon cabinet meeting."
Trump is the only president impeached 2 times, though not in his current term.
His communications director, Steven Cheung, told the New York Times in December, "The fact remains that President Trump is the best president in our country's history, while Sleepy Joe Biden will go down as the worst." However, a 2022 survey of 141 scholars ranked Trump 43rd among presidents.
