Tiger Claws: I think you are right on target!
Trump is playing chess against Pelosi and the Democrat/Socialist Party, while they are playing checkers against him.
I understand that Trump’s favorite book is “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu: “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles. If your opponent is of choleric temper, irritate him. He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.”
Indeed, “Trump is up to something. Trust the long game.”
In regards to his apparent defeat at the hands of Pelosi on giving the SOTU in the House - Trump has many options and venues open to him: For instance, he can accept Rush Limbaugh’s offer as MC and do the speech before a Trump friendly audience of thousands.
“Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.” - Sun Tzu
Donald Trump has proven a thousand times over he knows himself and the record of the last two years has been a catalog of defeat after defeat for the Left despite throwing everything at their target of hate to include the kitchen sink.
Trump likes applause. Can’t get that on Lumbaugh. Same reason he doesn’t want Oval Office. That speech was flat because it didn’t give Trump the feedback he craves.