White House aides reportedly aren't sure Trump is enthusiastic about a second term

Donald Trump.
(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

How low is morale in the White House nowadays? Some of President Trump's aides think it's at the lowest point since he took office, The New York Times reports.

The officials, most of whom spoke with the Times on condition of anonymity, said the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide protests have stalled the enthusiasm Trump showed when he was running for office in 2016. As far back as early April, several current and former aides said, Trump realized how serious the public health and economic crises stemming from the virus were, leaving them to doubt whether he was excited about overseeing the country pulling out of the recession, especially since he's reportedly never seemed to enjoy his presidential duties as much as he did winning the election.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up
Latest Videos FromThe Week
Explore More
Tim O'Donnell

Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.