Donald Trump's physical appearance at this week's G7 summit disconcerted a panelist on MS NOW — who was lightly scolded by the host for pointing out the president's apparent decline.
Joel Payne, the chief communications officer for MoveOn, appeared Friday morning on "Money, Power, Politics," where he commented on the 80-year-old president's appearance at the global leadership event as his administration negotiated an end to the war in Iran.
"Can I add one thing?" Payne said. "It'svery clear to me Trump is out, he's done with this. He'sturned the page on this.He's done with this war."
"That's exactly why themarkets have soared," interjected host Stephanie Ruhle, "becausethey're, like, he's done, he'sfinished, because investorsaren't thinking about what theimpacts are."
Ruhle apologized for interrupting and invited Payne to continue.
"He's done with any responsibilityfor what happens after the fact," Payne continued. "He signed this treaty. He'sdone his pomp and circumstance,as your [report] just expertlylaid out, and he's done. Also, helooks awful, and I'mnot saying that just as an aesthetic. I'm saying thatlooking back to the previouspresident we had with Joe Bidenand the loss of confidence in American leadership, in partbecause of that, Donald Trumphas not actually looked likethe bold, dynamic leaderpublicly."
Ruhle interjected again, suggesting his statements were unfair to the president.
"You cantake any president, anypresident, from beginning toend," she said. "They're not looking sostrong."
Payne begged to differ.
"Steph, he looked prettyrough this week," he said.