Trump's former colleagues are reportedly 'increasingly worried' about his 'erratic' behavior
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Yes, yes, George Conway may be nervous that his wife, White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway, is working with a clinically narcissistic sociopath whose mental condition is deteriorating, but people who like President Trump are apparently growing concerned, too.
"Some former Trump administration officials in recent days said they were increasingly worried about the president's behavior, suggesting it stems from increasing pressure on Mr. Trump as the economy seems more worrisome and next year's election approaches," The New York Times reports. MSNBC anchor Stephane Ruhle is apparently hearing similar concerns.
"Trump has seemed particularly erratic" this week, the Times recaps. "In recent days, he proudly quoted a radio host declaring that Israeli Jews love him as if he were the 'King of Israel' and 'the second coming of God,' while Mr. Trump himself accused Jews who vote for Democrats of 'great disloyalty.' Speaking with reporters on the South Lawn on Wednesday, he suggested that God had tapped him to lead a trade war with China. 'I am the chosen one,' he said, glancing heavenward."
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.
Trump also abruptly canceled a trip to Denmark on the dubious grounds that its prime minister was "nasty" about not selling him Greenland, flip-flopped on tax cuts and gun policies, and undercut the no-recession message his economic advisers have been spreading, Dan Balz adds at The Washington Post. Combined, Trump's behavior "portrays an administration and White House in chaos" and "a president who changes his mind whenever it suits him, whose statements shift with the moment, and who uses words carelessly and sometimes destructively," thus "leaving observers — no doubt including his own advisers — to wonder what and how he thinks about the issues before him."
"After the past two days, there is only one thing to say," Balz concludes: "Be braced for Thursday."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
5 cinematic cartoons about Bezos betting big on 'Melania'Cartoons Artists take on a girlboss, a fetching newspaper, and more
-
The fall of the generals: China’s military purgeIn the Spotlight Xi Jinping’s extraordinary removal of senior general proves that no-one is safe from anti-corruption drive that has investigated millions
-
Why the Gorton and Denton by-election is a ‘Frankenstein’s monster’Talking Point Reform and the Greens have the Labour seat in their sights, but the constituency’s complex demographics make messaging tricky
-
Trump sues IRS for $10B over tax record leaksSpeed Read The president is claiming ‘reputational and financial harm’ from leaks of his tax information between 2018 and 2020
-
Trump, Senate Democrats reach DHS funding dealSpeed Read The deal will fund most of the government through September and the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks
-
Fed holds rates steady, bucking Trump pressureSpeed Read The Federal Reserve voted to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged
-
Judge slams ICE violations amid growing backlashSpeed Read ‘ICE is not a law unto itself,’ said a federal judge after the agency violated at least 96 court orders
-
Rep. Ilhan Omar attacked with unknown liquidSpeed Read This ‘small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work’
-
Democrats pledge Noem impeachment if not firedSpeed Read Trump is publicly defending the Homeland Security secretary
-
The billionaires’ wealth tax: a catastrophe for California?Talking Point Peter Thiel and Larry Page preparing to change state residency
-
Hegseth moves to demote Sen. Kelly over videospeed read Retired Navy fighter pilot Mark Kelly appeared in a video reminding military service members that they can ‘refuse illegal orders’
