Among the curious notions that arise when contemplating Donald Trump is his aspiration to be president in the first place. As a wealthy elitist since birth, Trump may not entirely comprehend the sacrifices he will be forced to make.

Trump has lived a privileged life of flamboyant luxury, flaunting his fortune at every opportunity. His hedonistic lifestyle is apparent in his gold-encrusted penthouse as well as the way he treats, and mistreats people. And the admission that he can sexually assault women due to his celebrity is further proof of his imperious attitude.

However, none of these pursuits can be easily undertaken as president. There are constraints imposed by the office due to diplomatic and security concerns. Trump could not jet off to Monaco for a night of gambling and carousing whenever he feels like it. He could not entertain beauty pageant contestants at his resorts. Every time he leaves the White House he will have to observe strict procedures imposed by the Secret Service. There are a great many liberties that must be relinquished in exchange for the honor of being president.

The profound changes that face anyone taking this job are jarring. But they will weigh even heavier on someone like Trump due to the extravagances to which he has become accustomed. And recent disclosures by those in his inner circle affirm the difficulty he’s likely to experience post-inauguration. The New York Times reports that:

“Mr. Trump, a homebody who often flew several hours late at night during the campaign so he could wake up in his own bed in Trump Tower, is talking with his advisers about how many nights a week he will spend in the White House. He has told them he would like to do what he is used to, which is spending time in New York when he can. […]

“The questions reflect what Mr. Trump’s advisers described as the president-elect’s coming to grips with the fact that his life is about to change radically. They say that Mr. Trump, who was shocked when he won the election, might spend most of the week in Washington, much like members of Congress, and return to Trump Tower or his golf course in Bedminster, N.J., or his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach on weekends.”

Trump seems to think that the presidency is a 9-5, Monday-Friday gig. That is clear evidence of his naivete with regard to the job he sought, and regrettably attained. He cannot simply make his Fifth Avenue penthouse an annex of the White House. For one thing, there are resources and people in Washington that he’ll need to be near on a regular basis. For another, trying to secure a building in midtown Manhattan would be a nightmare for law enforcement. And it wouldn’t be any treat for the local residents or businesses either. Already there are barricades around Trump Tower that are impeding commerce and traffic in the neighborhood.

It isn’t surprising that a man of Trump’s advanced age would want to cling to what is familiar to him. But sleeping in his own bed every night would interfere with his official duties. And those duties could also present a problem for an aging, habitual, millionaire. He would not be in a position to chose his projects as he does now. His obligations will, more often than not, be thrust upon him by circumstances. It could be a military conflict in Ukraine or Yemen. Or it might be legislation that lands on his desk from Congress. Then there are always the unexpected obligations arising from natural disasters, government failures, and domestic terrorism.

There is very little that presidents actually get to do for themselves. When they do take on their own initiatives, it commonly requires a great deal of debate and compromise. It could take months, or years, of struggling to get consensus even within one’s own party. Consequently, it is necessary for an engaged president to study mountains of research and participate in marathons of meetings.

The problem in that regard is that Trump has shown himself to be utterly incurious and unwilling to educate himself. He has already indicated a disinclination to receive briefings via memos and documentation. He prefers that someone verbally walk him through the complex issues of the day. By that method it would be impossible to keep up with everything that a president encounters.

How Fox News Deceives and Controls Their Flock:
Fox Nation vs. Reality: The Fox News Cult of Ignorance.
Available now at Amazon.

As a result, Trump would have to rely on the advice and direction of his staff. That means that the American people would be subject to whatever prejudices his staff harbor. We would not really have a president, but a committee that has an undue amount of influence. Trump would be a figurehead whose leadership would be purely symbolic. Of course, that might actually be good news because his articulated platform is atrocious. The problem is that the platform of his handlers might be even worse. And they are totally unaccountable to the people.