I think Trump has gotten so used to exaggerating, lying and threatening in his business deals that it is likely second nature at this point. He doesn’t even realize he’s doing it now as president.
And Trump clearly has never been called on his lies in the past so is a bit surprised that as President things are different. But he does know the best defense is to always attack, which he does non-stop, viciously and never apologizing. Truth doesn’t matter, it’s about managing the message and Trump is very good at that.
This is where I struggle.
Does he not really realize he’s lying or he does know he’s lying, but he is just just incapable of acting differently than he has for decades.
I don’t know, but my guess is it’s the latter.
No he doesnt. So why does he? He could do and had done good things at least in the eyes of his supporters and not lie at the same time. Why does he feel compeled to do so?
You can try to deflect as much as you like but it won’t divert from the fact that there was no basis in fact what Sanders said. So Trump acknowledges that Sanders lying to the American people is acceptable to HIM or he sacks her because it is not acceptable to him.