Barky did this too. But his actions were aimed at keeping the GOP Congress from focusing so he did not put as many balls in the air as Trump. Trump has targeted the media and he has multiple goals. One keep them from focuding: Two Given Trump’s PR history he knows the media will always choose glitz over substance. So he makes noise about crowd size and illegal votes knowing that will draw the media flies and they will ignore his substantive moves like Keystone. Brilliant.
Do remember that in January 2009, the democrats were in charge of Congress; Pelosi in the House, and Reid in the Senate.