Gov warns 'diminished' Trump is forking over power to henchman 'manipulating him'

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, said on Tuesday that one of President Donald Trump's closest henchmen appears to be "manipulating him" as he seeks more power over domestic issues.

Pritzker joined The Bulwark's Tim Miller on a new episode of "The Bulwark Podcast" to discuss the Trump administration's deportation efforts, which White House senior aide Stephen Miller is reportedly leading. Pritzker said Miller appears to be using his proximity to the president to manipulate him because of the president's "diminished capacity."

"I do think he needs help, and I don't think anybody around him on a day-to-day basis wants to get him any help because they have more power based upon his diminished capacity," Pritzker said. "Think about Stephen Miller. I mean, Stephen Miller clearly is the one pushing the tactics at DHS, at CBP, at ICE."

"He's clearly the person who is aiming to have Donald Trump become an authoritarian leader, and I wish that people could at least recognize that Stephen Miller is bad for the country, and he is abusing the fact that Donald Trump has diminished capacity. He's manipulating him."

Questions about Trump's mental fitness and physical health have swirled since he took office in January. Experts have noted that bruising on the president's hands and his swollen ankles appear to be signs of chronic venous insufficiency, which causes poor blood flow.