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Trump’s Cycle of Lies

Donald Trump’s administration has an estranged relationship with the truth, so much so that even his most ardent defenders think the daily struggle against objective reality is keeping him from achieving his goals. The sheer volume of the president's deceits, and his administration's, has been chronicled elsewhere — from a running tally by The New York Times to the many "pants on fire!" claims compiled by PolitiFact.

What's also noteworthy, though, is the distinct pattern that Trump’s lies follow. It starts with a falsehood, and continues as the administration attempts to obfuscate both the lie and the truth. Then there's a grudging admission the lie was a lie, and finally an attempt to shrug off the subject. This pattern often unfolds quickly; the president routinely comes out and admits things on Twitter that his spokespeople have been denying for hours or days.

Ironically, the pattern echoes a well-known cycle in public relations — response to an event, recovery, mitigation, and preparedness for the next event. The stream of flimflammery coming out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has created a new paradigm: the lie cycle.

Nearly seven months into Trump's term, this cycle is so established that it's a useful predictor of future behavior, and not just to American voters. Foreign adversaries can see that, when Trump is in a bind, he blusters in easily disprovable ways. With its credibility in tatters, this White House is playing poker with a tell.

Consider four of the White House’s biggest falsehoods:

Russia

“I have nothing to do with Russia. To the best of my knowledge no person that I deal with does,” Trump said during a February press conference.

Firing of James Comey

The White House says James Comey’s ouster in May was based on his handling of an investigation into Hillary Clinton.

Inaugural crowd

"That was the largest audience to witness an inauguration, period. Both in person and around the globe,” spokesman Sean Spicer said during his first White House press conference.

Wiretapping

“Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my ‘wires tapped’ in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!” Trump tweeted.

Russia

Donald Trump Jr. issues a statement that he did meet with Russians during the campaign, but that the meeting was primarily about adoptions.

Firing of James Comey

The White House denies that Trump had already decided to oust Comey, prior to a Justice Department memo criticizing the FBI director. “No one from the White House,” then-spokesman Sean Spicer says. “That was a DOJ decision.”

Inaugural crowd

Trump says crowd estimates of 250,000 are a “lie” and that the crowd was many times larger.

Wiretapping

The White House says that Trump “used the word wiretaps in quotes to mean, broadly, surveillance and other activities."

Russia

Donald Trump Jr. admits meeting with Russians who were part of Moscow’s effort to put his father in the White House. “This is obviously very high level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump,” the message read.

Firing of James Comey

“When I decided to just do it [fire Comey], I said to myself, I said, you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story,” Trump said to NBC’s Lester Holt.

Inaugural crowd

Kellyanne Conway tells NBC “our press secretary Sean Spicer gave alternative facts” about the size of the crowd.

Wiretapping

White House officials back off wiretapping claim. “I’m not in the job of having evidence,” Conway tells CNN.

Russia

White House refers all press questions about Russia to outside attorneys.

Firing of James Comey

White House refers all press questions about the Comey firing to attorneys.

Inaugural crowd

Sean Spicer tells reporters, “I didn’t say in person — both in person and around the globe to witness it. . . . I don’t know how I could interpret that differently.”

Wiretapping

“On wiretap claims, I have said many times that we are pleased the House/Senate Intel Committees are investigating & will comment after,” Kellyanne Conway tweeted.