How do we unravel this strange case of Dr Donald and Mr Trump?

The latest mass shooting in America was followed by a recurring problem. How to reconcile President Donald Trump the Twitter character and the man who inhabits the role of healer of the American people.

These moments, when the president is supposed to bring the country together and provide the soothing voice that American citizens need, were a speciality of Barack Obama, with particularly the left-leaning media happy to praise the former inhabitant of the Oval Office for his dignity.

For Mr Trump, the praise comes from the right, with the chief cheerleader being Fox News. But in reality, Trump never looks entirely comfortable when standing at the lectern and giving these addresses and statements from the White House. The words are all right, talking about unity and how white supremacy needs to be defeated, but speechwriters putting words in his mouth always makes them sound forced.

Trump always prefers to talk at White House correspondent huddles on his way to fly to his latest destination, or on the ground when he is there. Or his favourite: doing it via 280 characters in tweet form. The problem is marrying these two versions of the president.

The president that reads what he should say from the White House always seems to be overawed by the other Trump. The one that rails against Democrats, and mental illness and immigration in a way that makes the more statesmanlike version of the president seem less believable.

The problem for reporters and editors is trying to pick their way through this maze. A number of times after mass shootings Trump has said from the White House that he would look at rules over gun ownership and even possibly raise the minimum age. Each time he has backed away thanks in part to outcry from the right.

Understanding where we need to place the emphasis when he says such contradictory things is something that we have to continually watch to make sure we get it right.

Yours,

Chris Stevenson

Acting deputy Premium editor