Trump's Lousy Credit

As millions of Americans desperately await $1,200 stimulus checks, Trump decided he wanted his signature on them.

One problem: as we explained, that's not legal.

So now he's printing his name on the memo line, delaying them by weeks.

Legal, but not ok. https://t.co/F86KhsxQjs

— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) April 15, 2020

It definitely seems like Trump is using his office (again!) to do a little campaign work for himself. The daily press briefings regarding the COVID-19 crisis have taken the place of his arena rallies (although he doesn't get the same mindless adulation, and the pointed questioning and fact checking seem to be wearing on him), and he's even taken the opportunity to use White House staff to create a nice advertisement for his efforts (which actually only highlights the paucity of effort taking place in February). But of all the obvious credit-grabs, having his name on the stimulus checks feels extra-shoddy.

I'm not the first to point out that perhaps it makes up for his name not being on the death certificates or the pink slips, or that it's a pointless bit of vanity since most people will have their stimulus funds direct deposited, and won't see his name on them at all. But it bears inspection that even in a crisis, it is so extremely important to Trump that he gets credit for something, is perceived as having the authority over everyone, but takes no responsibility for anything bad that happens, at all.

And all of this absurd exercise of managing Trump's personal feelings is making everything even worse.