It was supposed to be a White House event focused on American farmers and new federal aid to counter the effects of President Trump’s trade war with China.
But, as Politico puts it, Trump “hijacked” the appearance and, with farm leaders standing behind him in the Roosevelt Room, used it “to air his grievances over Speaker Nancy Pelosi and insist upon his mental fitness.”
He even repeated an oft-used line, telling reporters: “I’m an extremely stable genius. OK?”
Reacting to news reports that he petulantly canceled a Wednesday meeting on infrastructure with Pelosi and other Democratic leaders Trump called on members of the White House staff to confirm his mild temperament.
They all agreed he had been calm, with White House counselor Kellyanne Conway adding that there was “No temper tantrum.”
As for Pelosi, Trump declared she has “lost it” and described her as “a mess.”
But Pelosi wound up getting the last word.
Shortly after the farmers event ended, she tweeted: “When the ‘extremely stable genius’ starts acting more presidential, I’ll be happy to work with him on infrastructure, trade and other issues.”