J.D. has come to the Oval Office. He has a favor to ask.
T: What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be out making the Iran deal that will prove I’m a winner?
V: Not right now. The Iranians aren’t that interested in talking at the moment.
T: Well, you know I’m counting on you to pull my chestnuts out of the fire. I might not endorse you unless you do it.
V: Actually, that’s why I’m here.
T: Are you expecting an endorsement now?
V: Not exactly now, but in the near future. I need it to raise money and fend off any outside challengers. You don’t want DeSantis to succeed you, do you?
T: You don’t get it. The minute I endorse you, I lose attention and power. I’m not going to do that until the very last minute, if then.
V: So what do you plan to do?
T: I’ll make sly comments about running again all next year. Some fake news people and the left will believe me. It will drive them crazy and keep me at the center of attention.
V: True. It will also prevent anyone, including me, from campaigning.
T: That’s the point, of course. At the very last minute, I’ll make an endorsement. It’s a one-voter primary. The person I endorse will win automatically.
V: That will be me, right?
T: Maybe. It depends. Time will tell. You never know.
V: What does it depend on?
T: Well, first, you have to continue to be totally subservient. You can’t criticize anything I do. You even have to promise that you will automatically follow my advice when I give it after you take office.
V: You mean, be like a ventriloquist’s dummy?
T: Exactly!
V: OK. I’m good with that. What else?
T: You have to succeed at every task I give you. We can start with the negotiations.
V: That’s harder. You can’t reasonably expect me to be a miracle worker.
T: Why not? That’s what I am. I never lose, regardless of the odds. Now go and get to work!