President Donald Trump has become increasingly isolated and angry as he watches top aides leave a White House that has descended further into more chaos, a report claimed on Saturday.
The president has been described by aides and friends as a man consumed by rage over the constant stream of scandals that have engulfed his administration, particularly over the past few weeks, The Washington Postreported.
Trump’s behavior is beginning to concern allies, especially after this past week saw him express changing opinions on gun control, announce new tariffs on steel and aluminium, and take aim once again at Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
There was also the resignation of White House communications director Hope Hicks, one of the president’s most trusted aides, the Mueller investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the US elections, and the ethical and legal concerns surrounding son-in-law Jared Kushner.
It was reported this week that Kushner was stripped of his top secret security clearance by chief of staff John Kelly.
Kelly reportedly angered Trump earlier this week when he joked during an appearance at the Department of Homeland Security that his hiring by the president to be White House chief of staff was ‘punishment from God.’
Kelly has also been the subject of controversy over his handling of the Rob Porter scandal.
Porter was a top aide to the president who was operating without a security clearance due to past allegations of abusing ex-wives and girlfriends.
Kushner is also said to face more questions about over half-a-billion dollars in loans his family’s real estate company received after he met with financiers in the White House.
One of Trump’s supporters described the scene as ‘pure madness.’ Others say they have encouraged friends of the president to call him and keep in touch in order to lift his spirits.
Trump is growing more concerned over his son-in-law, who is increasingly viewed as a political and legal liability.
The president has reportedly asked people close to him whether they think Kushner or his company broke the law.
A source of anger for Trump is the steady stream of negative headlines about son-in-law Jared Kushner, according to The Washington Post
The constant stream of negative headlines about Kushner, the Mueller investigation, and the turmoil in the White House has led Trump to ‘lose his cool,’ advisers say.
Trump was particularly incensed over a photograph that was shown on cable news.
In the picture, Sessions is seen dining at a Washington, DC restaurant with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Solicitor General Noel Francisco.
The image, which was first obtained by Axios, was interpreted by many to be a show of solidarity among the Justice Department’s top officials just hours after Trump attacked Sessions and his agency in a tweet.
The agency has come under fire from Trump because of the Russia probe, which has gained momentum in recent weeks.
It was Sessions who recused himself from the Russia probe, leading his deputy, Rosenstein, to name Robert Mueller as special counsel.
Trump has been angry with Sessions for the recusal, which the president views as a betrayal.
There was also the resignation of White House communications director Hope Hicks (above), one of the president’s most trusted aides, and the intensifying Mueller investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the US elections
This week, the president took aim at Sessions for asking the DOJ’s Inspector General to investigate alleged surveillance abuse of FISA laws by the FBI.
Trump wanted criminal prosecutors to investigate the matter.
The president’s worsening moods and tense relationships with his top aides have taken a toll on the entire staff.
‘Morale is the worst it’s ever been,’ said a Republican strategist who has frequently spoken to White House staff.
‘Nobody knows what to expect.’
One administration official warned that things may get worse before they get better.
'We haven’t bottomed out,' the official told the Post.
On Saturday, Trump’s critics who have accused him of authoritarian tendencies were alarmed at his praise of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The president told a crowd of donors at Mar-a-Lago that he admired Xi after the ruling Communist party announced it was eliminating the two-term limit for the presidency, paving the way for him to serve indefinitely.
‘He’s now president for life, president for life. And he’s great,’ Trump said, according to audio of excerpts of Trump’s remarks at a closed-door fundraiser in Florida aired by CNN.
White House Chief of Staff Kelly (center) has also been the subject of controversy over his handling of the Rob Porter (right) scandal. Porter was a top aide who was operating without a security clearance due to past allegations of abusing ex-wives and girlfriends
‘And look, he was able to do that. I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll have to give that a shot someday,’ Trump said to cheers and applause from supporters.
It is not clear if Trump, 71, was making the comment about extending presidential service in jest.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment late Saturday.
US Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat, said on Twitter that ‘whether this was a joke or not, talking about being President for life like Xi Jinping is the most unAmerican sentiment expressed by an American President. George Washington would roll over in his grave.’
US presidents by tradition served a maximum of two four-year terms until President Franklin Roosevelt was elected a record four times starting in 1932.
An amendment to the US Constitution approved in 1951 limits presidents to two terms in office.
Trump this week also raged on Twitter at Attorney General Jeff Sessions (above)
In order to change the current prohibition, it would require initial support of two-thirds of both houses of Congress or support of two-thirds of state legislatures - and then would need to be ratified by three-quarters of the states.
Later Saturday evening, Trump took the opportunity to poke fun at himself and trade barbs with the press at an annual bipartisan dinner.
Trump accepted an invitation to the 133rd Gridiron Club and Foundation dinner on Saturday, his first given that he declined to attend last year.
Every president since Grover Cleveland has come to at least one Gridiron.
'We were late tonight because Jared could not get through security,' the president joked, referring to his son-in-law's recent security clearance woes.
Trump said that his staff was concerned he couldn't do self deprecating humor, adding 'I told them not to worry. Nobody does self deprecating humor better than I do,' according to initial pool reports.
Trump said that he'd offered Jeff Sessions a ride to the dinner, but that the attorney general had 'recused himself'.