Candidate Trump, with hardly any staff and prep, was agile and authentic. Key Republicans think President Trump, with hardly any staff and prep, seems small or lost. A strategist who works closely with the administration said: “The entire West Wing staff sat in an unplanned press conference in the middle of a Thursday. Every time I turn on cable news, I see literally everybody from the chief of staff on down sitting in the president’s press events like interns trying to get into the background of a photo shoot.”

Candidate Trump electrified crowds and inoculated himself from criticism by blaming the “dishonest” media for every mishap. President Trump seems a little unhinged tweeting his mornings away and whining about “fake news” as his legislative priorities flounder. “These guys have a golden opportunity to make massive change, and they’re squandering it with all this silliness,” said one of Washington’s top lobbyists. “Because at the end of the day, it’s all about him.”

Candidate Trump stoked his base with relentless attacks on establishment Republicans like John McCain. Now, the McCains of the world have the power to strike back, rhetorically and substantively. It’s no secret Trump has very few authentic admirers among Senate Republicans. This could bite him badly when it comes to the Flynn/Russia investigation.

But, but, but … Like the campaign, Trump has zero interest in changing any of this and firmly believes he’s off to a strong, if not stellar, start.