Is Trump in Decline?

Of all the criticisms to make of him, that he’s frail and easily fatigued is the most preposterous.

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President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and European leaders amid negotiations to end the Russian war in Ukraine, at the White House in Washington, D.C., August 18, 2025.

Al Drago/Reuters

The MSNBC anchor Lawrence O’Donnell believes he’s on to a scandal — the U.S. president who held a snap summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, and then, immediately after, hosted a spontaneous meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and major European leaders at the White House, is so debilitated that he can barely function.

His evidence is that Donald Trump had a light public schedule a couple of days after this flurry of in-person, high-stakes diplomacy.

Rich Lowry

About the Author

Rich Lowry

Rich Lowry is the editor in chief of National Review.

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