The Trump show implodes

President Trump can’t help himself. Friday, with evidence mounting of a conspiracy to withhold desperately needed military aid to force Ukraine’s government into announcing a bogus investigation into Joe Biden, the president, in trademark style, flailed about to try changing the narrative.

Watching the attempt explode in his face was equal parts funny and sad.

First, Trump released a transcript of an April 21 phone call with Ukraine President-elect Volodymyr Zelensky, an apparent attempt to show there was no shakedown.

Not only did that prove nothing, but the bland transcript bore no resemblance to the official readout the White House released on the day of the call. The readout claimed Trump “expressed his commitment to work together with President-elect Zelensky and the Ukrainian people to implement reforms that strengthen democracy, increase prosperity, and root out corruption.” So, what other official summaries of calls with foreign leaders have been made up?

Then, as former Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch gave convincing testimony on the smear campaign undertaken by Trump hatchetman Rudy Giuliani and his indicted cronies Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, Trump tweeted smears about Yovanovitch. “Everywhere she went turned bad,” he charged, pointing to assignments that included Somalia and Ukraine — while neglecting stops in Britain and Canada.

The stupidity backfired, forcing even congressional Republicans to admonish Trump and praise Yovanovitch’s service.

Those Republicans should finally admit that a president who so entirely lacks self-control can do little but impeach himself and the integrity of those foolish enough to try defending him.