One way Trump can win: Stop calling it ‘the wall’

President Trump could get his wall in a minute. All he needs to do is stop calling it “the wall.”

Politics is the art of ambiguity mixed with sleight of hand.

“The wall” is a symbol that Democrats can’t live with. Even Republicans know that by itself, it won’t stop illegal immigration on the southern border. So you rebrand it as “border security.”

Then you reach into the federal budget for hidden pockets of funding that no one will miss and use it to pay for whatever you like — more guards, more cameras and, yes, even a wall. In strategic places.

Trump’s problem is that by taking a vocal all-ornothing position, he’s backed himself up against a wall of his own making.

Unlike conventional politicians, however, Trump has the ability and willingness to reverse himself on a dime and still claim he is moving forward.

If Democrats are really concerned about the federal workers who aren’t getting paid during this shutdown, they’re going to need to back off as well and give Trump an out.

Most presidents would blink when confronted with the likelihood that they’re causing a financial disaster for hundreds of thousands of people. Trump could double down.

After all, this is a guy who, throughout his business career, has considered bankruptcy a viable option.

Overkill: Inaugurations were once solemn and quick. Now, they’ve turned into full-blown rallies.

I attended a halfdozen swearing-ins last week, and all of them opened with an invocation by a minister, followed by a youth choir, followed by far too many speeches.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s swearing-in was the most elaborate. You’d have almost thought he was taking the oath of office as president.

When his 2-year-old son, Dutch, wandered onto the stage and stole the show, it reminded me of what my mother told me years ago: “If your child stands up during your speech, it’s time for you to sit down.”

Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis had House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, farmworkers union cofounder Dolores Huerta and former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm as speakers. Keep an eye on Kouanalakis, the state’s first female governor lite. She’s already looking to lose the “lite” part.

For my money, the most heartfelt swearingin ceremony was Fiona Ma’s as state treasurer. She held it at the rebuilt Booker T. Washington Community Service Center in San Francisco, a building that now includes 50 apartments for young adults coming out of foster care.

Fat fun: When the break for lunch came on swearing-in day in Sacramento, everyone headed for Frank Fat’s.

Former Gov. Jerry Brown and San Francisco Mayor London Breed shared a table. Breed spent much of her time lobbying anyone who would listen to support Kimberly Ellis as the next state Democratic Party chair.

Ellis narrowly lost the race for party chair last year to Eric Bauman. Then Bauman had to quit because of a sexual misconduct scandal, so the job is open again.

Judging by how former state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León was working the crowd at every inaugural event, I think he has his eye on the job as well. Another first: Congratulations to Norman Yee, the new president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

You can bet Mayor London Breed is going to make a point of inviting Yee and another Asian American officeholder, city AssessorRecorder Carmen Chu, to every event she attends in the next few months.

They’ll make great photos for the Chinese media and a great pitch for the Chinese vote in

Jim Watson / AFP / Getty Images President Trump speaks during his Thursday visit to a Border Patrol station in McAllen, Texas, where he went to push his campaign to build a border wall.