Now the Trump campaign is walking back the Liz Cheney comments. Saying they were taken out of context.

[Metaphorical]

56. Definition of Gaslighting

Making a hateful or demeaning statement, then, when enough pushback comes, saying that you didn't really mean it or it was taken out of context, or even "that's not what I said."

One of the first things that anyone in a leadership position learns is to be much more guarded about what they say. Their words have authority, and even if they may happen to believe a certain thing, actually saying it is may bring about unintended (or even intended) consequences. Case in point - King Henry II's comment - "Can someone not rid me of this meddlesome priest?" - which let to the death of Thomas Beckett, the Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1170 AD.

Trump is a master of this, as in the latest situation with Liz Cheney and as was clearly the case with Jan 6. No command is ever explicitly given, but instead, every attack is couched in deniable terms. And if something bad should happen to the target in question, well "I never said that. Obviously the person who committed the attack was mentally ill. Too bad he isn't around now to talk."

Trump is a mob boss in everything but name.