The Atlantic

This Is What an Unleashed Trump Looks Like

The president is bestowing favor on his loyal defenders, and visiting revenge on those he feels have betrayed him.
Source: Win McNamee / Getty

Updated on February 11 at 5:51 p.m.

The Senate’s acquittal of Donald Trump elicited predictions that the president would now be “unleashed,” freed to do as he pleased. His actions over the past few days offer a first glimpse of what that might look like. With the threat of accountability gone, or at least diminished, Trump is bestowing favor on his loyal defenders, and visiting revenge on those he feels have betrayed him.

Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, who testified in the impeachment hearings, was.

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