With a government shutdown looming Monday night, Trump late Sunday capitulated and signed the bill.

So why didn’t he speak up when it really mattered — or direct Mnuchin to draw a line in the sand over the slimmed-down stimulus checks? Explanations abound, none of them flattering to the outgoing commander-in-chief.

One theory: Trump was exacting revenge on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for failing to back his challenges to the presidential election results in several states. He wanted to leave McConnell twisting in the wind for a few days – especially with the outcome of the two Georgia Senate runoffs, set to take place Jan. 5., hanging in the balance.