The President is a master troller.
He does not declare war. He declares truth through hint, subtly, or with tentative postulation , or by outright declaration. Those around him have very high cringe factor. And as you say, out jumps the rabbit while the standard politcal offers are shaking with ague. Always very interesting, whichi is why the left is so fascinated in their watching of Trump. They can’t stay away.
That drives his enemies quite insane.
There are times when I wonder whether President Trump has studied Machiavelli.
Probably...but the President is far more subtle.