'Is he a liability?' Questions raised as Trump team adjusts to his limitations

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 concerns in terms of the strangeness with the hands, the falling asleep in the meetings, the late night Truth Social bursts where he's clearly not sleeping in the middle of the night. But it's also about erratic behavior in terms of being out of touch, perhaps, with the American people losing his sort of that superpower he had to have his finger on the pulse of what people cared about, but also just that the threat to reporters, the apocalyptic threats to Iran, the list goes on and on."

"They've made some adjustments to his schedule, you know, no morning events," Lemire added. "He wears more comfortable shoes now. He's largely seated for events, really cut down on travel. So this is becoming a growing storyline, and including among Republicans who are privately whispering, you know, President Trump, he is getting older as 80 approaches, as he has another physical ahead of him in a couple of weeks. You know, is he now more concerned about his legacy and his more unfiltered version of himself and therefore not what the people 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 he a liability?" Torre asked. "And, you know, in fairness, I want to quote what I believe the White House spokesman said: 'Here's where you're wrong, Jonathan,' and he pointed out that no one has been more active in the public, right? That's what they hang their hat on, is that he is still out here. But the question is, is that actually hurting now as opposed to helping?"

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 him defeat Sen. [Bill] Cassidy in Louisiana, the primary, you know, Indiana, his selections won their primary races. But yes, come November that could be a different matter."

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