Donald Trump ‘bullied and humiliated' Theresa May in ‘near-sadistic’ phone calls
President revealed to be ‘deferential’ to dictators while hectoring female world leaders

Donald Trump regularly “bullied and humiliated” Theresa May calling her “spineless” on Brexit, according to one of the journalists behind the Watergate scandal.
Carl Bernstein investigated the calls of the president with world leaders for four months, finding that “Trump was consistently underprepared, repeatedly outplayed by US enemies and abusive to allies”, the Daily Mirror says.
The reporting revealed that Trump was “deferential to the Russian and Turkish presidents”, while “abusing the leaders of America’s allies, taking a particular dislike to women”, The Times adds.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“He’d get agitated about something with Theresa May, then he’d get nasty with her on the phone call,” a source told Bernstein.
The president’s conversations with May were described as “humiliating and bullying”, while another source said: “He clearly intimidated her and meant to.” Bernstein reports that the US president also labelled May “a fool” for her pro-Remain stance on the European Union and support for Nato.
The Telegraph notes that Bernstein’s reporting found that Trump also “denigrated” German Chancellor Angela Merkel - whom he called “stupid” - while remaining “cordial - even reverential” with Vladimir Putin of Russia and Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The president’s grip on geopolitics in phone calls led senior officials to conclude that “the president himself posed a danger to the national security of the United States”, Bernstein writes for CNN.
The calls led senior Trump aides to believe he is “delusional” in his dealings with other leaders, two sources told Bernstein, who adds that Trump believed he could “charm, jawbone or bully almost any foreign leader into capitulating to his will, and often pursued goals more attuned to his own agenda than... the national interest”.
Trump is currently under pressure to respond to reports that Russia paid members of the Taliban to target US troops in Afghanistan. The president initially described the reports as “fake news”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
What to know before lending money to family or friends
the explainer Ensure both your relationship and your finances remain intact
By Becca Stanek, The Week US
-
A running list of Trump's second-term national security controversies
In Depth Several scandals surrounding national security have rocked the Trump administration
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
The tobacco industry could be the beneficiary of health agency cuts
The explainer Anti-tobacco initiatives could be up in smoke
By Devika Rao, The Week US
-
A running list of Trump's second-term national security controversies
In Depth Several scandals surrounding national security have rocked the Trump administration
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
How might Trump's tariffs affect the luxury goods market?
Today's Big Question Luxury clothes, cars and watches could be in the crosshairs
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Trump granting military control of federal border lands could circumvent the law
In the Spotlight The move could allow US troops to detain people crossing the border
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
The Resistance: Is it finally taking off?
Feature Mass protests erupted across all 50 states during the 'Hands Off!' demonstrations against the Trump administration
By The Week US
-
Loomer: Feeding Trump's paranoia
Feature Trump fires National Security Council officials after the conspiracy theorist attended a meeting in the Oval Office
By The Week US
-
Inflation: How tariffs could push up prices
Feature Trump's new tariffs could cost families an extra $3,800 a year
By The Week US
-
DOGE: Have we passed 'peak Musk'?
Feature The tech billionaire suffered a costly week after a $25 million election loss in Wisconsin and Tesla's largest sale drop on record
By The Week US