I would’ve respected Trump so much more if he had just come out and said;
“It’s true, my inauguration was less attended than President Obama’s, and for a number of reasons. President Obama was a very popular figure, and his inauguration was a historic event. I have no illusions about my popularity, I’m aware that I’m controversial, and I believe that many of my supporters were afraid to attend because of the possibility of riots. Not even a mile away, rioters lit a limousine on fire…”
His ego will be his downfall.