President Donald Trump, ever hyper-aware of how his administration plays out in the media, boiled over recently as he turned to his acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney: “We are getting crushed! Why can’t we get a deal?”

According to a Wednesday New York Times report, Trump is shocked that Democrats haven’t come around on the wall and has taken to finger pointing at various aides whenever he sees news or polling indicating that Americans are blaming him for the prolonged shutdown.

Mulvaney, the recipient of Trump’s latest outburst, is meanwhile trying to find his sea legs in his new position, reportedly taking a more hands-off approach than his predecessor.