President Trump's weird behavior and bizarre statements are nothing new to anyone who keeps up with politics, but this past week took the high-strangeness to a new level. It's hard to say whether Alzheimer's or some other illness is causing his moments of derangement, or whether his Narcissistic psyche is collapsing under the pressure of the Trump-Russia investigation and the Comey-firing backlash.
Whatever his malfunction happens to be, there's no doubt the White House is in chaos, and our country is being poorly led by a man unfit to serve.
Just a few headlines using the word "Unhinged" from this past week:
Vox: Trump Had An Unhinged Early Morning Tweet Storm After Firing Comey
Jeet Heer on New Republic: Trump's Unhinged Impromptu Press Conference Was a Lesson for Sean Spicer
Mediaite: Dem Congresswoman Kathleen Rice says Trump is "Unhinged" "Acting Like a Petulant Child"
Daily Kos: Unhinged Trump Attacks Democratic Senator Blumenthal With Fake News
Crazy Quotes from his Time Magazine Interview:
I don’t watch CNN. I don’t watch MSNBC.
(hint: not true - he often rants about both on Twitter and aides have leaked that he often yells at the TV)
Scarborough used to treat me great. But because I don’t do interviews and stuff and want to … He went the other way. Which is fine. He’s got some problems. But I don’t watch the show anymore. It drives him crazy. I don’t watch the show.
(Interpretation: Trump often refers to the show on Twitter, but now that Joe and Mika have gone from cheerleaders to critics, he pretends not to watch it)
CNN in the morning, Chris Cuomo, he’s sitting there like a chained lunatic. He’s like a boiler ready to explode, the level of hatred. And the entire, you know the entire CNN platform is that way. This Don Lemon who’s perhaps the dumbest person in broadcasting
(Cuomo is critical, and Don Lemon is critical and happens to be black).
As far as newspapers and things, I glance at them. They’re really dishonest. I mean they’re really dishonest.
(Interpretation: Denial and Fear)
You see a no-talent guy like Colbert. There’s nothing funny about what he says. And what he says is filthy. And you have kids watching. And it only builds up my base. It only helps me, people like him. The guy was dying. By the way they were going to take him off television, then he started attacking me and he started doing better. But his show was dying. I’ve done his show. … But when I did his show, which by the way was very highly rated. It was high—highest rating. The highest rating he’s ever had.
(Colbert has criticized Trump for years and recently made a crude oral sex joke about Trump and Putin, and clearly Trump was not amused)
Quotes from the Lester Holt NBC News Interview:
TRUMP: Look, (Comey) he's a showboat. He's a grandstander.
(Trump Projection of his own personality)
The FBI has been in turmoil. You know that, I know that, everybody knows that. You take a look at the FBI a year ago, it was in virtual turmoil -- less than a year ago. It hasn't recovered from that.
(No evidence of that whatsoever - only Twitter rumors from God knows who)
He (Deputy AG Rosenstein) had made a recommendation. But regardless of recommendation, I was going to fire Comey knowing there was no good time to do it
(Rosenstein says he was told to write a memo by AG Jeff Sessions, who also wrote a memo)
I said to myself -- I said, you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story. It's an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should've won.
(Russian tampering in our election has been reported and verified)
And the reason they should've won it is the electoral college is almost impossible for a Republican to win. It's very hard because you start off at such a disadvantage. So, everybody was thinking they should've won the election. This was an excuse for having lost an election.
(Republicans have won many times, but Trump had "help" with his disadvantage - from Russian tampering)
I had a dinner with him (Comey). He wanted to have dinner because he wanted to stay on. We had a very nice dinner at the White House...very early on. That dinner was arranged. I think he asked for the dinner. And he wanted to stay on as the FBI head. And I said I'll, you know, consider. We'll see what happens. But we had a very nice dinner. And at that time, he told you are not under investigation...
(Comey denies ever saying that to Trump)
And this part is key to understanding the King of Denial - just make stuff up, but also have a Freudian Slip or two:
HOLT: That was one meeting. When was the -- when was the other two?
TRUMP: First of all, when you're under investigation, you're giving all sorts of documents and everything. I knew I wasn't under. And I heard it was stated at the committee -- at some committee level that I wasn't, number one.
(Not the "number one" perp but clearly not off the hook either - right?)
HOLT: So, that didn't come directly from him.
TRUMP: Then, during a phone call, he said it. And then, during another phone call he said it.
(Did this really happen? Wait until Comey gets to testify about this point - it will be epic!)
So, he said it once at dinner and then he said it twice during phone calls.
HOLT: Did -- did you call him?
TRUMP: In one case I called him and one case he called me.
HOLT: And did you ask am I under investigation?
TRUMP: I actually asked him, yes. I said if it's possible, would you let me know am I under investigation. He said you are not under investigation.
(It's believable that Trump would have the audacity to call the FBI, but no one there would ruin an investigation by telling the subject about it, especially not the Director of the FBI)
Live feed of White House Communications Office watching Donald Trump's interview with Lester Holt. pic.twitter.com/cfcX5odOdK— Orange Leader (@OrangeLeaderUSA) May 11, 2017
Trump's Twitter Rants:
The Russia-Trump collusion story is a total hoax, when will this taxpayer funded charade end?— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 8, 2017
Biggest story today between Clapper & Yates is on surveillance. Why doesn't the media report on this? #FakeNews!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 8, 2017
Cryin' Chuck Schumer stated recently, "I do not have confidence in him (James Comey) any longer." Then acts so indignant. #draintheswamp— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2017
The Democrats have said some of the worst things about James Comey, including the fact that he should be fired, but now they play so sad!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2017
James Comey will be replaced by someone who will do a far better job, bringing back the spirit and prestige of the FBI.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2017
Comey lost the confidence of almost everyone in Washington, Republican and Democrat alike. When things calm down, they will be thanking me!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2017
Watching Senator Richard Blumenthal speak of Comey is a joke. "Richie" devised one of the greatest military frauds in U.S. history. For....— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2017
years, as a pol in Connecticut, Blumenthal would talk of his great bravery and conquests in Vietnam - except he was never there. When....— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2017
caught, he cried like a baby and begged for forgiveness...and now he is judge & jury. He should be the one who is investigated for his acts.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2017
Dems have been complaining for months & months about Dir. Comey. Now that he has been fired they PRETEND to be aggrieved. Phony hypocrites!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2017
We finally agree on something Rosie. https://t.co/BSP5F3PgbZ— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 11, 2017
Russia must be laughing up their sleeves watching as the U.S. tears itself apart over a Democrat EXCUSE for losing the election.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 11, 2017
Again, the story that there was collusion between the Russians & Trump campaign was fabricated by Dems as an excuse for losing the election.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 12, 2017
The Fake Media is working overtime today!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 12, 2017
As a very active President with lots of things happening, it is not possible for my surrogates to stand at podium with perfect accuracy!....— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 12, 2017
...Maybe the best thing to do would be to cancel all future "press briefings" and hand out written responses for the sake of accuracy???— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 12, 2017
James Comey better hope that there are no "tapes" of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 12, 2017
So far today...— JoeMyGod (@JoeMyGod) May 12, 2017
Trump openly threatens former FBI director...
Trump openly threatens to curtail the press...
It's only 9am
As Trump began his Twitter rant this morning, a senior aide saw the unfolding drama & responded w/ one word: 'Jesus' https://t.co/DBF6T3nYMD pic.twitter.com/eXgRBb71vd— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 13, 2017
Trump goes on Twitter rant about his firing of James Comey https://t.co/TupiJmsFRb pic.twitter.com/Nu5HehlUea— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) May 10, 2017
First obstruction of an investigation. Now witness intimidation from the Highest Office. A sad moment for even this White House. Unhinged?— Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) May 12, 2017
Threatened to imprison his political opponent, to end White House press briefings to #JamesComey. #Trump behave like a #dictator #Nixon pic.twitter.com/v5M9EQzQyX— Hamlet Garcia (@Hamletgarcia17) May 12, 2017
Sean Spicer refused to say whether Trump was recording people in the White House FOUR different times. pic.twitter.com/LbA8eONoNn— RogelioGarcia Lawyer (@LawyerRogelio) May 15, 2017
Chris Wallace & Shepard Smith rip into Trump on Fox News. Wallace says Spicer's Nixon like non-denial denial took his "breath away" pic.twitter.com/6mOm6NPgMD— RiotWomenn (@riotwomennn) May 13, 2017
Trump is "a little dismayed," according to Spicer pic.twitter.com/ZHKQKUygJK— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) May 12, 2017
Schiff: Trump needs to hand over Comey “tapes” or Congress should subpoena — or Trump needs to admit it's baloneypic.twitter.com/CEq81rscpN— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) May 14, 2017
Warner: Would “absolutely” subpoena Comey tapes if they exist; need to make sure they don't “mysteriously disappear” pic.twitter.com/98OLIjFwt5— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) May 14, 2017
Krauthammer: Trump's tweet on Comey tapes "sounds more like a mafia boss" than president https://t.co/yg2vOyMsfQ pic.twitter.com/gzU0YVh6VR— The Hill (@thehill) May 13, 2017
"Mr. Comey would be delighted if the tapes came out ... he has a very different version of what happened at the dinner." @PeteWilliamsNBC— Hardball (@hardball) May 12, 2017
Trump actually suggested he should be his own press office while president. Didn't he try that once before with fake call in to news? SAD! pic.twitter.com/vCc3LF50H9— Stop Trump 🍷 (@StopTrump2020) May 13, 2017
On SNL, Melissa McCarthy’s Sean Spicer emerges from the bushes and finally confronts Trumphttps://t.co/hn5B6vR9VE pic.twitter.com/3aCDVrUCfN— Elahe Izadi (@ElaheIzadi) May 14, 2017
Part 1 - #SNL's #MelissaMcCarthy as #Spicer - NOT FUNNY! I'm telling my lawyers to get #SaturdayNightLive BANNED! #SNLLiveCoastToCoast. pic.twitter.com/1gtuCJ4pkA— Donald J. Trump (@RealDonaldTrFan) May 14, 2017
Part 3 - #SNL's Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer. #SaturdayNightLive #SNLLiveCoastToCoast. pic.twitter.com/tjp6yfoPoE— Donald J. Trump (@RealDonaldTrFan) May 14, 2017