“I used, at the White House, the most beautiful marble and stone available anywhere. Surfaces are very important to me as a Builder. As everyone knows, I built many GREAT buildings, and other things, over the years. At the White House, I am very proud of the beautiful stonework we did in the Rose Garden, in this case, using limestone plus. The Rose Garden is completed, and far more beautiful than anyone ever had in mind when it was conceived of, decades ago. Three days ago, while admiring the stonework, I happened to notice a huge gash in the limestone that extended more than 25 yards long. It was deep and nasty! I started yelling, “Who did this, and I want to find out now!”—and I didn’t say this in a nice manner. I wondered, “was it vandalism or, was it stupidity?” Lo and behold, because of the fact that we’ve installed the finest security equipment anywhere, they brought back the stupid people, with their boss watching (in sunglasses!). It was a subcontractor that was installing heavy landscaping on a steel cart that was broken and tilting badly, with it rubbing hard against the soft, beautiful stone. I love and respect great workers and contractors, but something like this should never happen. Now, I’ll replace the stone, charge the contractor, and never let that contractor work at the White House again—But, how great is the video equipment We caught them, cold. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” - Donald J. Trump, 8/30/25
It’s hard to know what to make of the above text. It came to my attention after being posted by “Rapid Response 47,” an official U.S. government Twitter account dedicated to getting ahead of the President’s opponents and making sure that his message comes through on all major landscaping issues. It may also address other issues. I’m not sure. This is the first time I’ve heard of it.
This is 247 words—or, as you’re probably thinking to yourself, just 24 words less than the Gettysburg Address—of the President of the United States sharing an issue he had with a contractor. Word for word, it sounds like it could be recited by basically any random suburban dad—complete with pulling out a phone to show camera footage (“How great is the video equipment?”).1
Now, some might view this use of official channels to air a petty grievance “unpresidential,” but in fact, it’s part of a long tradition of leaders using their high position as a “bully pulpit,” which was coined by Theodore Roosevelt after he remarked, “Wow, it sure is easy to use the Offie of the President to bully the proprietor of Jake’s E-Z-Cuts into giving me a free haircut, even though I pretty clearly punched the punch card nine times myself. What a rube!”
But even before that proud moment in American history, Presidents have been taking advantage of the “megaphone” the office provides. Below, please find some classic instances of the Bully Pulpit throughout history.
“Samuel Jenkins Clearwater’s Authentic New England Firewood is neither Authentic, nor New England, nor Firewood, in my humble opinion. I have attempted numerous times to use it in my stove at the White House, and it seems to crumble into Dust and Numerous Spiders’ Eggs each time I place them inside. What, pray tell, is the nature of the scam? How is it more dear to chop the wood than to create this abominable admixture and sell it as wood? Mr. Clearwater will no longer do business with this administration, my affection for New England notwithstanding.” - John Adams
“[Unprintable]’ - Lyndon Johnson
“Professor Pete’s Perfect (his words, not mine) Stovepipe Hats is a total SCAM! The material is flimsy and my hats keep falling over during important speeches. I love our nation’s great hatters, but this is not OK. I tried to call the University of Hats to see if he had truly graduated summa cum laude, and it turned out there is no such university! I will get a new hat and make Professor Pete reimburse me for the materials and emotional damages. Anyway, on with the big speech! Four score and seven years ago…” Abraham Lincoln
Notes:
Why did I write this? The President is such a bad guy that I sometimes forget that he is also a really weird guy (in sunglasses!).
What I’m reading: Still on The Path To Power! It’s marvelous, just taking my time with it.
Ok, there are some unique-to-Trump touches, like “(in sunglasses!).” That parenthetical made me wonder: have I ever seen a photo of Trump wearing sunglasses? If it’s worth remarking on and scorning, he’s probably got something against wearing sunglasses. Well, the answer is yes, once: I can find one picture of him wearing the “eclipse glasses,” after he famously refused to wear eye protection and stared directly into the sun during 2017’s eclipse. A more innocent time!