For one thing, I totally believe he knows Yertle is playing him.
Trump is well aware of where loyalties lie and how factions lie.
But he is, after all is said and done, a gentleman and a statesman...he has just not yet learned to finesse some his replies and reactions.
He reminds me so much of Reagan...Reagan was accused of being a puppet for so many of the Washington assholes...he knew the score, he led them on, then he literally pulled the rug from under their feet.
Trump has been played by Yertle...but neither Yertle or Trump foresaw the rise of Moore...I certainly didn't see it...I had hoped for it, but Moore solidified his base and had an election been held immediately, Strange would have been gone...period, and Yertle would never have had the chance to do his machinations with Trump.
Trump is far, far from stupid, but he is a little politically naive.
Yertle is unwittingly helping to change that and once Trump has been solidly convinced of what Moore carries...Yertle will suffer the consequences.
Trumps is also just a little, um, shall we say, vengeful?...and he will retaliate.
We may not see a public reckoning, but I firmly believe there will be a reckoning.
I have my popcorn ready...and I have patience.
But a couple of things still mystify me...one of them being the endorsement of Strange by the NRA early on, before an election was even scheduled.
They knew one was going to happen, they just never foresaw the rise of Moore.
I do think that the powers that be felt strongly that the battle would be Strange vs Brooks.
The little support Brooks held was within his stronghold of Madison/Limestone/Huntsville area and I suppose that the ILA guys at the NRA figured that a bunch of liberal rocket scientists were going to go with the weakest 2nd Amendment advocate, which was Brooks, therefore they would throw their support to the known stronger 2d Amendment advocate...which is Strange.
Just my opinion...your mileage may differ.
Interesting breakdown. Also, pointing you to my #14 comment as I should have pinged you.
Republican leaders are going to endorse the incumbent unless said incumbent gets caught with a dead girl or a live boy.
Same with the NRA. They will always endorse the incumbent as long as the incumbent is satisfactory in their eyes.