That's a clever article. It perceives the intention well. I think somebody much smarter than Trump himself has guided him in this strategy. But who? The article doesn't get into it. It concentrates on how to undermine his manipulation of words by way of public media and put a stop it. It is further complicated by the way Trump also cuts through the bullshit of his opposition while he bullshits to beat the band. How did words ever become so important? I guess it's the power of the information age. Words are weapons. The only way to defeat such words are to use truth. Society has been reduced to play with words to subvert values in order to justify the things people do to make a living. It would cost a lot to challenge the status quo with truth.
I think Roy Cohn got him started down the path and he's since surrounded himself with people who continue to keep that fire stoked. With that network, I would include Steve Bannon, who continues to be in contact with him, although he's no longer a member of the administration, Stephen Miller, and Sara Huckabee Sanders, who I think is not merely a mouthpiece for the administration, but an active member of crafting the messages that reach the public.