Trump's former colleagues are reportedly 'increasingly worried' about his 'erratic' behavior

(Image credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

published 22 August 2019

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."

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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."

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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.