Trump’s last stand: Outgoing president is burning more norms and his own party in final weeks

‘The Trump Show’ is entering its final episodes, and fittingly, there is ample drama ahead, writes Washington Bureau Chief John T. Bennett

Donald Trump’s phone call to Georgia elections officials and his calls for congressional Republicans are a fitting  end to “The Trump Show.” (AFP via Getty Images)

British troops burned down the White House in August 1884. On his way out of the executive mansion, Donald Trump is hurling metaphorical flaming torches at former allies and his own political party – even the capital city itself.

A presidency half-jokingly described by many Washington insiders as “The Trump Show,” a reality television approach to running a country, is fittingly ending with final episodes that are shaping up to be as dramatic – if predictable – as anything most Americans have ever seen. And the star of the show, Mr Trump, seems as desperate as ever while running out of ways to create a path to a second term.

He will return to the campaign trail Monday evening in Georgia. But GOP lawmakers and party insiders worry he will turn what ostensibly is a rally for the states two Republcian Senate candidates, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, into another form of his recorded phone call with state elections officials in which he asked them to “find” nearly 12,000 votes he needs to win the state.