The photo appears casual, almost accidental. A desk in the Oval Office, a single sheet of paper lying on it. At the top are the words “Draft Truth.” A hand rests on it, as if holding the text in place - or preventing it from finding its way out. Only on a second look does it become clear what is shown here: not a published post, but a fully written statement that never appeared.
The content is not technical. It concerns severe storms in the state of Washington. Storms, flooding, landslides. A declared disaster, emergency measures, direct federal assistance. Thoughts and prayers for those affected, deployed resources, a formal thank-you for the attention. Exactly the kind of statement presidents routinely release in such situations. Only this time, it did not happen.
While homes were damaged, roads flooded, and people forced to leave their apartments, the text remained on paper. It did not appear on the president’s platform. Instead, other messages were distributed: self-praise for tariff policy, attacks on migrants, flattering images of himself, public pressure on lawmakers. Time was available. Attention as well. The prepared text nonetheless stayed where it was. What is remarkable is not what the draft says, but that it exists at all. The president had written the statement, complete and ready for publication. The state response existed - but only as a draft.
That this draft became visible was not a deliberate act. Eric Trump posted photos from the Oval Office in which the sheet was clearly visible. An internal moment became public without being intended as such. No classic leak, no exposure of secret material. Rather, an unintended glimpse into priorities. The president had a statement that would have signaled responsibility. He had written it. And he left it there. What remained public was not the response, but the absence of it. That a statement about a natural disaster in particular was left unpublished while other content made its way out is not a technical mishap. It is Donald Trump - a president who, even in formal matters, stops somewhere between preparation and the public. A state that wants to appear capable of action, with a president incapable of acting. And a truth that was formulated - and still not sent.
Sometimes it is not what is said that reveals something about power, but what was already written and left behind.
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Ganz ehrlich, er wird sie sicher nicht geschrieben haben. Die kam aus seinem Büro, aber war für ihn nicht wichtig genug, um darauf zu reagieren.
möglich, der punkt um den es ja geht ist die nicht weitergabe zu solch einer situation
Ich verstehe den Punkt, Rainer. Für mich ist es aber noch schlimmer, dass für ihn diese Memo nichts wert ist. Wenn er es selbst geschrieben hätte, hätte er sich zumindest damit befasst. Wahrscheinlich hat er den Zettel gar nicht gelesen, hatte ja wohl wichtigeres zu tun. 😥
…genau das ist es ja, was wir schreiben…