Of course there are people who know. But not the decision maker. I notice the use of collective pronouns, but there is only one person driving this. Everyone else is riding the tiger.

Not sure why, despite long and consistent experience, that people keep thinking he’s anyone but exactly who he appears to be. There’s no grand plan, calculated risk, or 4D-chess. The clown is just putting on a performance, based on his immediate feelings, and the immediate reaction of the crowd. There’s nothing else there.