Donald Trump: White House experiencing ‘dark days’

DONALD Trump is angry, isolated and fumes at the television and negative news headlines.

The United States President is also frustrated, brings up old grudges and is uncertain over who he really trusts.

In a revealing Washington Post piece, aides close to the President describe how Mr Trump continues to shock and rage.

The piece also highlights how Mr Trump is facing a shrinking circle of trusted advisers and staff who are grim about any prospect of a reset.

The officials, who remain anonymous, reveal how they’re concerned that news commentary and perceived slights are taking a toll with one ally revealing its “pure madness”.

Retired four-star Army general Barry McCaffrey told the Washington Post the President was starting to wobble in his emotional stability.

“Trump’s judgment is fundamentally flawed, and the more pressure put on him and the more isolated he becomes, I think, his ability to do harm is going to increase,” he said.

Officials further reveal how Mr Trump has been fuming over a series of headlines and stories on issues such as allegations of Russian collusion in the 2016 election.

His son-in-law and trusted adviser Jared Kushner has also been under the spotlight in recent days, adding to negative publicity for the President.

US federal investigators are looking into whether Mr Kushner’s business talks with foreigners influenced White House policy.

Mr Kushner has already lost his access to top-secret US intelligence information in recent weeks.

He was a senior adviser to Mr Trump as the US President, but revelations about potential conflicts of interest have affected his position in the White House.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Mr Kushner’s clearance was downgraded from the “Top Secret/SCI” level to the “Secret” level.

Advisers reveal how negative headlines cause the President to lose his cool especially in the evenings and early mornings when he is the most isolated.

Mr Trump reportedly raged for hours after a photo emerged of Attorney-General Jeff Sessions having dinner with Deputy Attorney-General Rod J Rosenstein, who oversees the Russia investigation. He was apparently still angry about it the next morning, seeing it as a sign of disloyalty.

Mr Trump has been highly critical of Mr Sessions arguing he isn’t doing enough to investigate whether the FBI abused government surveillance powers in the Russia probe and has publicly attacked him over Twitter.

The President is lamenting the loss of trusted staff including that of his Communications Director.

Just last week, Hope Hicks, one of Mr Trump’s closest confidants and advisers, confirmed she was resigning as White House Communications Director.

Ms Hicks was Mr Trump’s spokeswoman during the 2016 presidential campaign, and has worked for the Trump family for years.

Mr Trump is said to be frustrated at her departure with one source telling the Washington Post he feels abandoned and alone.

After 13 months in office, there’s little expectation among many White House aides and outside allies that Mr Trump can quickly find his footing or attract new, top-flight talent to the West Wing.

Some Republican politicians, who are eyeing a difficult political landscape in November’s midterm elections, have begun to let private frustrations ooze out in public.

“There is no standard operating practice with this administration,” said Senator John Thune of South Dakota. “Every day is a new adventure for us.”

JOVIAL TRUMP

If the President is feeling unhappy and alone, he isn’t showing it to the outside world even poking fun at himself during the annual Gridiron Club dinner in Washington DC.

Mr Trump has joked about impeachment, Mr Kushner’s security clearance and the First Lady Melania leaving him as he attended the highly formal and traditional event full of the news media he often dubs “fake news”.

The President used the event to make a number of his quips which made fun of the atmosphere in the West Wing after a chaotic week, with staff departures and rumours of more to come.

“It’s been really another calm week at the White House,” he said. “We finally have it running like a finetuned machine. We were late tonight because Jared could not get through security.”

Despite the chaotic week and high staff turnover Mr Trump cracked a joke at his own expense even bringing his wife into it.

“So many people have been leaving the White House. It’s invigorating since you want turnover. I like chaos. It really is good. Who’s going to be the next to leave? Steve Miller, or Melania?”

Mr Trump joked it was terrible then turned to his wife and asked if she loved him.

“I won’t tell you what she said,” he said.

“She said, ‘Behave.’”

Mr Trump also had words of praise for the news media, calling the crowd “quality people”.

Just hours before, Mr Trump tweeted that “Mainstream Media in US is being mocked all over the world. They’ve gone CRAZY!”

Before the crowd made up of Washington’s media elite, bureau chiefs and White House reporters, he said: “I do want to say this is one of the best times I can ever remember having with the media. This might be the most fun I have had since watching your faces on election night.”

- with Reuters/AP

debra.killalea@news.com.au