The video clip of Trump responding to a journalist’s question at the top of this NYT article neatly encapsulates what is so loathsome about him. What he says and the way he says it, complete with idiot pinching gesture, as if to say “I crush your head between my finger and thumb,” is a classic example of his moronic certainty of his own wisdom when in fact his head is an echoing empty space.

“You know my plans,” Mr. Trump said to reporters who asked whether the attack on Monday, in which a Tunisian is being sought, would cause him to re-evaluate his proposals to create a Muslim registry or to stop Muslim immigration to the United States. “All along, I’ve been proven to be right. One hundred percent correct.”

No. No, you dumb fuck – that’s not a thing. There is no “one hundred percent correct” on such matters, and it’s not “presidential” to strut around announcing your own 100% correctitude. Talking like that is the opposite of president-like; it betrays what an utter fool you are. It reveals what a child you are.

It’s got to be weird, being a White House reporter with this guy to report on. I thought that about Bush, and how much more do I think it about the pinching blowfish. It’s got to be weird passing on his childish remarks without saying “can you believe how childish this guy is?” It’s got to be weird typing “As with many of his pronouncements since his election last month, the remarks, delivered on the blustery front steps of his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, were cryptic and left room for broad interpretation” when what you mean is “What he said made no fucking sense whatever.”

As for the substance, such as it is…

It was not clear whether Mr. Trump was reaffirming his much-criticized call for a wholesale ban on Muslim immigration or his subsequent clarification that he would stop only those entering from countries with a history of Islamic extremism. As with many of his pronouncements since his election last month, the remarks, delivered on the blustery front steps of his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, were cryptic and left room for broad interpretation.

But hours later, one of his advisers said he was only restating his most recent position.

“President-elect Trump has been clear that we will suspend admission of those from countries with high terrorism rates and apply a strict vetting procedure for those seeking entry in order to protect American lives,” said Jason Miller, the communications director for the transition. “This might upset those with their heads stuck in the politically correct sand, but nothing is more important than keeping our people safe.”

So all IS and its satellites have to do is recruit people from countries without high terrorism rates – along with, of course, inspiring the freelancers who are already here. But I suppose it’s politically correct of me to point that out.