[ben_w]

That felt right in the first term, but not this time around. Trump just straight up lies about whatever he doesn't want to be true, even when Trump's talking to a journalist and the journalist is asking Trump a question about something Trump said on camera the week before. (Reminds me of Boris Johnson in the UK, that).

I think the simple answer is he doesn't know that "objective truth" is a thing, it's all just words and power-play for him, whatever (seems to him will) work in the moment without any regard for long-term planning.

Like how current AI gets criticised for not really being smart despite appearing so when you don't pay close attention, modified by how biological nets get good with far fewer examples than ML requires.

[xg15]

He can say and do what he wants, but I think the crucial question is if his base and supporters would be ready to go along with it (or at least pretend to).

They seem to do so for almost everything - except the Epstein files. Those seem to be a bridge too far even for the MAGA crowd.

[ben_w]

Sure, but I'm saying if there was kompromat he'd just deny it like he denies other things he's said on camera, I don't think he'd change his behaviour due to being threatened with it.