Encircled by his courtesans, Donald Trump opened his eyes long enough in the Oval Office to attack Sen. Lisa Murkowski, while Mike Dunleavy fawned on command.

Mike Dunleavy, always competing for the president’s blessing, says Trump is the greatest president ever.

“I’ve done so much for Murkowski. You have the governor right here. Governor have I did a lot for Alaska? Is there anybody done more for Alaska than me?” the GOP puppet master said Thursday.

“You’ve been the best president for Alaska in our history, Mr. President. I’ve said that many times,” said Dunleavy, smiling with his hands folded as if in prayer.

Not enough times to get a job in the cabinet, however.

Dunleavy groveled behind the greatest president and grinned while Trump insulted and attacked Alaska’s senior senator.

“And Murkowski’s terrible. Terrible to us. Terrible to the country. And you know I almost feel guilty. I do more, probably done more for Alaska than any other state. Not because of her. Because it’s the right thing to do. She’s just an impediment. But she’s there. She probably will be a negative vote,” said Trump.

A better man than Dunleavy would have said the greatest president was wrong and that Murkowski has demonstrated her independence during her years in office and is a woman of good character even if you disagree with her politics.

But Dunleavy, Sen. Dan Sullivan and Rep. Nick Begich the Third are afraid of the bully. They lack the courage and character to stand up for Murkowski.

Dunleavy is following the path cleared by countless others who understand that the price of admission to the Trump Oval Office is to kowtow before the great man and treat him like a graduate of the first grade.

Earlier, Dunleavy was called upon to drone on at length because Trump was signing a proclamation to allow fishing in areas in the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument and the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument northwest of Hawaii.

Trump thought he was signing a proclamation about Alaska fishing and called on Dunleavy to explain. But theses are the formerly protected areas where Trump wants fishing to resume. Dunleavy didn’t know anything about it either, but that didn’t stop him from praising Trump for helping Alaskans.

“Mr. President, this is another example of America First, to be honest with you,” said Dunleavy.

“Alaska provides 60 percent of the country’s seafood. We’re the state with halibut, salmon, King Crab, you name it, it comes from Alaska. Alaska’s one of, fishing in Alaska’s one of the oldest industries in that entire state, employs thousands of individuals. Everyone has had fish from Alaska, we know that. But this is an example again of putting Americans first, America first, workers first and really this country first and so on behalf of Alaska, on behalf of all fishermen and women, I want to thank you for what you’re doing for this country, for the state of Alaska as well,” said Dunleavy.

Trump had no idea what he was signing. It appeared that Dunleavy had no idea what Trump was signing. In that they were evenly matched.

Trump thought the proclamation applied to Alaska waters, not to waters near Hawaii, and he had a notion he was saving the fishing industry from shutdowns ordered by his predecessors that Trump was reversing. He asked Dunleavy about it.

“Governor, was this shut down?” Trump asked about the proclamation that had nothing to do with Alaska. “I mean it’s just so hard to believe. So this was trauma for your industry, which is a big industry.”

Dunleavy may be too tall to get a top job with Trump, but he is as small as anyone in the inner circle. He couldn’t answer the question, so he oozed obsequious and changed the subject.

“Well, your deregulation is what really helps Alaska,” Dunleavy said. “It helps the fishermen. We, the country doesn’t need more regulation. We need less regulation. And that includes for this industry as well. From that perspective, and it’s across the board, we could talk about oil and gas and so forth, but this is about fish. But your deregulation approach is really what we need. We don’t need more costs. And as you said, we probably don’t need electric boats either,” Dunleavy said, a line that drew a smile from the winner of the FIFA peace prize.

“We need the focus on getting seafood to Americans, putting people to work. And this is exactly what this does. So I just want to thank you,” said Dunleavy.

“Good job,” Trump said.

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Dunleavy droned. Donald dozed.