Donald Trump is making a deliberate effort to soften his tone and demeanor since becoming the de facto president. In recent interviews, including a Meet the Press interview with Kristen Welker, Trump has been more restrained and focused on substance, with some campaign-style shots, but relatively less aggressive than in the past.
Trump’s statements have been interpreted in multiple ways, including his declaration that he wants to represent those who didn’t vote for him, which is a long way from his 2017 “American carnage” inaugural address. He has also made efforts to sound conciliatory, saying he won’t oust Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell, and wants to work with Democrats to protect Dreamers. He has also stated he won’t restrict the national availability of abortion medication and that the United States will remain in NATO as long as other member states spend what they have pledged on defense.
Some have noted that Trump’s rhetoric has become more measured, with less personal attacks on individuals, including journalists. However, he did make an exception to mock Maggie Haberman of the New York Times. Trump’s senior adviser, Jason Miller, has said that the president’s words were taken out of context, and that he wants his appointees to apply the law equally to everyone.
Despite the efforts to appear more moderate, Trump still has the ability to slip back into his old behavior when provoked, and some have questioned whether this “mellowed-out” version of Trump is genuine or just a clever packaging to rebrand himself. As the president-elect has the job he believes was unfairly taken from him, he may have a greater incentive to seem more reasonable and unify the country, which could potentially lead to a more successful second term.