“...If the provocations are private, then make the responses private....”
Do this and it just goes on and on...
Throw it there for the public to see and it mostly come to a head somewhere along the line...
Except that what we are seeing in public, is Trump’s comments, without the context that we might see if he’s really responding to private communications with Youngkin and DeSantis.
Well, consider what you just said right there. Trump did exactly what you said - took it public - and what was the result? All the media outlets that were saying he shouldn't run took those statements and made them the centerpiece of even more articles saying that he shouldn't run. So it had the exact opposite effect of what he apparently wanted, which was completely predictable.
Trump obviously doesn't like the idea of the WSJ, etc., running articles critical of him and saying he shouldn't run. So what?? They have every right to do that, and media commentary on the merits of various potential candidates has been going on forever. Getting outraged and angry that someone has the temerity to criticize you publicly is just a really bad look, and it is hurting him politically. But he can't and won't stop it because that's just who he is. And it is going to cost him.