New reporting on President Donald Trump's age-related decline opened fresh questions about his leadership of the Republican Party.
The Atlantic published a new report detailing how the president's team has adjusted to his limitation, and reporter Jonathan Lemire discussed his findings Monday while co-hosting MS NOW's "Morning Joe."
"There are some health concernsin terms of the strangenesswith the hands, the fallingasleep in the meetings, thelate night Truth Social burstswhere he's clearly not sleepingin the middle of the night. Butit's also about erraticbehavior in terms of being outof touch, perhaps, with the American people losing his sortof that superpower he had tohave his finger on the pulse ofwhat people cared about, butalso just that the threat toreporters, the apocalypticthreats to Iran, the list goeson and on."
"They've madesome adjustments to hisschedule, you know, no morningevents," Lemire added. "He wears morecomfortable shoes now. He'slargely seated for events,really cut down on travel. Sothis is becoming a growingstoryline, and including among Republicans who are privatelywhispering, you know, President Trump, he is getting older as80 approaches, as he hasanother physical ahead of himin a couple of weeks. You know,is he now more concerned abouthis legacy and his moreunfiltered version of himself and therefore not what thepeople want?"
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Pablo Torre wondered whether a diminished Trump could lead the GOP through a successful midterm election later this year.
"Well, the question is, is hea liability?" Torre asked. "And, you know,in fairness, I want to quotewhat I believe the White Housespokesman said: 'Here's whereyou're wrong, Jonathan,' and hepointed out that no one hasbeen more active in the public, right? That's what they hangtheir hat on, is that he isstill out here. But thequestion is, is that actuallyhurting now as opposed tohelping?"
Lemire said the evidence so far suggests Trump still holds a strong grip on the GOP.
"So far, within the party,it still helps," Lemire said. "We saw himdefeat Sen. [Bill] Cassidy in Louisiana, the primary, you know, Indiana, his selections wontheir primary races. But yes,come November that could be adifferent matter."