“It’s not going to change a damn thing, but I’m still doing it,” he told anchors at an off-the-record lunch before his speech. (FYI: The NYT was not invited to the lunch, so it is not beholden to the off-the-record request.)
From the article linked below: "Privately, Mr. Trump dismissed his own new strategy as pointless. In an off-the-record lunch with television anchors hours before the address, he made clear in blunt terms that he was not inclined to give the speech or go to Texas, but was talked into it by advisers, according to two people briefed on the discussion who asked not to be identified sharing details."
It is amazing that his followers think he gives two shits about them. But they do. He is one of them, somehow! He loves America!
Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/08/us/politics/donald-trump-speech.html