After describing the mid-air collision between a military helicopter and a passenger plane as a tragedy and condoling the 67 fatalities at a press conference, Trump went on the verbal attack.
The objective tone turned into a fierce agitation. Trump accused the Democratic ex-presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, as well as the aviation authority FAA, of indirectly causing the accident by prioritizing diversity and inclusion.
Empathy is his weakest point. He is not good at it rhetorically. His strongest side rhetorically is to campaign and scold others. It is his natural way of speaking, says Bengt Johansson, researcher at the University of Gothenburg.
Moreover, it is always important for him to be a winner, so that no guilt falls on him.
Trump's behavior includes never acknowledging responsibility and never backing down, explains Johansson.
It is an old script that he always uses.
A president's role in tragedies and national traumas has traditionally been to step forward as a unifying figure.
It usually is an important function of a leader to be able to gather a nation and express empathy, at least in the last 30-40 years it has been that. Trump breaks that contract.
The risk that Trump's actions would have any opinion-related consequences is small.
His fanbase does not care. He is not punished and plays in a different division than traditional politicians, says Bengt Johansson.
He has won two presidential elections that way.
