The President’s Blind Spot

President Trump doesn’t understand the nature of public service. On the apprentice and in his business, the people under him are driven by personal ambition, whereas most public servants are driven by mission. If you fire the department head in your company, the next in line will get the message and come into line, but for many in public service, the mission is more important than promotion or personal gain. That’s why the FBI Deputy Director contradicted Trump’s assertion that James Comey didn’t have the respect of his staff. Many people driven by their commitment to the institution of the FBI won’t knuckle under. Someone among them will ensure that whatever information the new Director wants to suppress makes its way to the news media.

Our president doesn’t understand the call to public. He came to it late in life, to serve his ego and bank account. He is making a mistake to think that he can bring institutions like the FBI to heel as easily as firing the director and installing one of his sycophants. Here’s hoping the error proves fatal to his presidency.