Trump biographer assumes president is secretly devastated over McCain leak: 'It’s shattering to him to feel that he’s wrong'

A Tuesday interview with Art of the Deal co-author Tony Schwartz by CNN's Anderson Cooper revealed that President Donald Trump might be having his own personal meltdown over the leak of the attack on Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).

“His idea of strength is so, sort of cookie cutter,” the host observed of Trump. “It’s almost cartoonish how he defines strength. And I assume the definition of strength for him is not apologizing.”

Schwartz noted that he doesn't believe Trump is deliberately planning things like this.

“I don’t even think it’s a calculation, or an analysis, or an opinion,” Schwartz said. “I think it’s an impulse and an instinct that emotionally, psychologically he’s incapable of it. Because it’s shattering to him to feel that he’s wrong.”

Anyone on his staff who publicly apologized would likely end up on Trump's "coward" list.

“Everybody in Trump’s mind is either weak or strong," the author went on to explain. "Is either or rich or poor. Is either tough or wimpy. But it’s also that that person is always reflecting on him. Because the only person Trump sees at any given moment, truly, is himself. So, everybody is a reflection of him, for better or worse. So, in this case. if there were to be an apology, it would be for worse.”

Top aide Kelly Sadler attacked McCain, saying that what he thought about any issue is immaterial "because he's dying anyway." Sadler was then supported by White House communications director Mercedes Schlapp.

Watch the full interview below: