7 points on the anonymous New York Times ‘resistance’ op-ed

Published September 6, 2018 4:50am ET



The New York Times’ publication of an anonymously-authored article, “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration,” set the world of political commentary on fire Wednesday afternoon. The author, whom the Times identified only as “a senior official in the Trump administration,” claimed that he used his government position to thwart President Trump’s “more misguided impulses.” Others, also unnamed, joined him in the effort, he said. The article, quickly denounced by the president, promised to dominate cable news for days. Here are seven thoughts on what it means:

1) It concedes Trump’s accomplishments are big. Early in the piece, the author admits that the Trump administration has had significant success on the issues most important to American voters. “Many of [the administration’s] policies have already made America safer and more prosperous,” he writes. Later, he makes a list: “effective deregulation, historic tax reform, a more robust military and more.” Perhaps the author doesn’t see it that way, but peace and prosperity are any president’s two most important accomplishments. Conceding Trump’s achievement undercuts the broader theme of the article.

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