Trump has to recognise that when he opens his mouth, he becomes vulnerable to attack.
He confronts a hostile media corps, who are acting in coordination with a disenfranchised political class that still can't quite comprehend the rebuke of Trump's victory last November.
That these two seriously wounded animals have teamed up is far more indicative of the real state of affairs than any commentary, by them, regarding white supremacy, but regardless, the past two days have been a disaster not just for Trump but for the United States.
Once things have settled down, it is imperative that Trump prove their accusations of racism wrong, decisively, not by words but by actions.
Trump won that election as a breath of fresh air promising executive efficiency and competence.
With the debt ceiling looming, he now really needs to start delivering on that promise.
It's all very well circumventing a hostile media via Twitter, but there does have to be a protocol, and that protocol has to be obeyed.