The pre-recorded video that the Trump administration released last night to announce the missile attack on Syria was… strange. When you compare it to similar announcements by other administrations, it seemed even stranger.
Even though Trump was at Mar-a-Lago and not the White House, his media people should have been ready to present an unscheduled announcement in a professional, presidential manner. Unfortunately, the gravitas was missing.
First, the video feed started with a long shot that made it seem that Trump was standing in an empty banquet hall with blue drapery hung behind him and the teleprompters as his only audience.
Second, the audio sounded like Trump was in his bathroom. The sound quality varied dramatically from moment to moment.
Third, this type of statement is best given looking directly into the camera. Instead, Trump was reading off the teleprompters stationed right and left of the camera... just as if he was talking to a room packed with his supporters. Perhaps, in his twisted little mind, he was.
The video posted by the White House today edited out the initial long shot and fixed the sound, but could do nothing about the amateurish nature of the presentation.
But amateurish is one of the defining characteristics of this administration.