Leaky, Leaky

In recent days, I’ve spoken with a half dozen prominent Republicans and Trump advisers, and they all describe a White House in crisis as advisers struggle to contain a president that seems to be increasingly unfocused and consumed by dark moods.

[...]

Bob Corker’s remarkable New York Times interview—in which the Republican senator described the White House as “adult day care” and warned Trump could start World War III—was an inflection point in the Trump presidency. It brought into the open what several people close to the president have recently told me in private: that Trump is “unstable,” “losing a step,” and “unraveling.”

  Vanity Fair

I hope his fat orange head explodes.

Lookin' a little rough there.

“Alabama was a huge blow to his psyche,” a person close to Trump said. “He saw the cult of personality was broken.”

[...]

According to two sources familiar with the conversation, Trump vented to his longtime security chief, Keith Schiller, “I hate everyone in the White House! There are a few exceptions, but I hate them!”

Pretty sure the feeling is mutual.

Two senior Republican officials said Chief of Staff John Kelly is miserable in his job and is remaining out of a sense of duty to keep Trump from making some sort of disastrous decision.

[...]

Earlier this week, I reported on Kelly’s plans to prevent Trump from mingling with guests at Mar-a-Lago later this month. And, according to two sources, Keith Schiller quit last month after Kelly told Schiller he needed permission to speak to the president and wanted written reports of their conversations.

Kelly has an inflated sense of his power, I think.

Today, speculation about Kelly’s future increased after Politico reported that Kelly’s deputy Kirstjen Nielsen is likely to be named Homeland Security Secretary—the theory among some Republicans is that Kelly wanted to give her a soft landing before his departure.

Tomorrow morning's tweet is going to call that a lie.

Even Trump’s most loyal backers are sowing public doubts. This morning, The Washington Post quoted longtime Trump friend Tom Barrack saying he has been “shocked” and “stunned” by Trump’s behavior.

Trying to cover his own ass, I suspect. NOBODY is either shocked or stunned.

Several months ago, according to two sources with knowledge of the conversation, former chief strategist Steve Bannon told Trump that the risk to his presidency wasn’t impeachment, but the 25th Amendment—the provision by which a majority of the Cabinet can vote to remove the president. When Bannon mentioned the 25th Amendment, Trump said, “What’s that?”

Dolt doesn't even know how they could get rid of him.

According to a source, Bannon has told people he thinks Trump has only a 30 percent chance of making it the full term.

Tweet: That's a LIE! Bannon will have to go on record denying it.

The beginning of the fall season at Mar-a-Lago, later this month, is liable to be a crucial period in the relationship [between Trump and Kelly].

[...]

According to conversations with four prominent Republicans close to the White House, Trump has grown frustrated with Kelly in recent weeks at what he sees as Kelly’s highhandedness. “They’re fighting a lot,” one source explained.

[...]

The most recent flashpoint was Kelly’s decision late last month to reassign Peter Navarro, Trump’s nationalist trade adviser, to report to Gary Cohn, without first clearing it with Trump. According to two sources familiar with the matter, Navarro bumped into Trump in the West Wing and explained that Kelly had reassigned him to work for Cohn, which was news to the president. “Trump was like, what the fuck? He told Navarro, ‘You’re my guy and hang in there,’” said a source briefed on the conversation.

[...]

For his part, Kelly’s patience is being tested by Trump almost daily. [...] How long Kelly lasts in the job has become a topic of speculation in the West Wing. [...] Trump is said to fear the optics of losing Kelly at a time when other officials, from Tillerson to Cohn, have contemplated resigning.

[...]

The next few weeks will surely test Trump and Kelly’s relationship. As Kelly seeks to revive Trump’s stalled tax plan, prevent the Iran nuclear deal from falling apart, and avoid war with North Korea, he’ll also face the challenge of having to manage Trump at Mar-a-Lago. According to two sources, Kelly has developed a Mar-a-Lago strategy to prevent Trump from soliciting advice from members and friends. [...] Sources briefed on Kelly’s plans said he will attempt to keep Trump “out of the dining room.”

  Vanity Fair

He can't do it.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

UPDATE 10/12:  Kelly has to go on record.