I have seen this pattern in Trump and others since the start. There is secondary timing that we are not aware of, and then there are threats and other roadblocks. It does not mean the content doesn’t exist. What is being done has never been attempted before and it’s hard.
It must be comforting in a way to be able to excuse any statement, no matter how divorced from reality, from someone you like.
I imagine it’s much easier to like and trust people if you never hold them accountable for anything.