There is a view prevalent in the media and pundit universe that President Donald Trump is some kind of enigma. You never know what he is going to do or say next. While it is true that Trump operates on a level of unfiltered impulsivity rarely seen in politics, he is plenty calculating. Trump is acutely sensitive to public opinion polling, particularly with his base, which he protects zealously.

Throughout his relatively short political career, Trump has been driven by the polls. Whether in response to movement or exploiting voter grievances, Trump moves with the public. He does have his own set of cherished positions, but even in those cases, he tries to stay onside with the voters.