# Is President Trump suddenly Getting Worse? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 12, 2018, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444 "2018-01-12T04:54:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/21 "2018-01-12T13:22:37Z")
I dunno - I had just recently reached a different conclusion, that things had assumed a new low - a new normal. The book was a big buzz for a week, but what did it really do to move the needle for anyone? Couldn’t make me think any less of him (and just makes the state of our country’s governance even MORE depressing.) And isn’t going to affect the opinions of the true faithful. Yeah, his self-clutching is odd - and seems more prominent. But he has flat out told Congress that he will sign whatever they put in front of him. So they can ignore him as anything other than a cartoon figurehead - a king, if you will - and both parties can focus on the midterms and whatever they can cobble together in their self interests. I remember people talking of Reagan as managing in a “hands off” style. Trump is taking that to an extreme. He is free to lurch to whatever public appearances he wishes, and otherwise, watch TV and golf as the country runs itself in a half assed manner. He’ll take credit for any perceived successes, and deny responsibility for any perceived shortcomings. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/22 "2018-01-12T14:08:20Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > I would have hoped there was some sort of numerical metric of tweets-per-fortnight or miles-flown-per-speech but I appreciate the thoughts of others. Here’s an article from Mashable regarding the frequency of Tweets by President Very Stable Genius (to Nov. 2017): > **[Trump's tweets since he was elected president: A complete breakdown](https://mashable.com/article/trumps-twitter-addiction-since-election)** > > His favorite subjects include Hillary, "fake news," and the NFL protests. > [@](#): > > In the first six months of his presidency, Trump sent out over 1,000 tweets (and passed no major legislation). That’s about 5.7 tweets per day. That actually marked a 45 percent decrease from the amount he tweeted in the six months prior to the election. But over the last three months, he’s been tweeting about 9.5 times per day. A quick look at Twitter analytics shows him averaging about 7 Tweets/day over the past month, so leveling off a bit; OTOH there probably is a practical limit to the number of Tweets he can emit and still leave a few hours for that annoying Presidentin’ stuff, and he may have reached it. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/23 "2018-01-12T15:09:40Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > With “shithole countries” he’s reached a new low. Which he does weekly. > > How low can he go? 6’ would be good. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/24 "2018-01-12T15:17:01Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I dunno - I had just recently reached a different conclusion, that things had assumed a new low - a new normal. The book was a big buzz for a week, but what did it really do to move the needle for anyone? Couldn’t make me think any less of him (and just makes the state of our country’s governance even MORE depressing.) And isn’t going to affect the opinions of the true faithful. > > Yeah, his self-clutching is odd - and seems more prominent. But he has flat out told Congress that he will sign whatever they put in front of him. So they can ignore him as anything other than a cartoon figurehead - a king, if you will - and both parties can focus on the midterms and whatever they can cobble together in their self interests. > > I remember people talking of Reagan as managing in a “hands off” style. Trump is taking that to an extreme. He is free to lurch to whatever public appearances he wishes, and otherwise, watch TV and golf as the country runs itself in a half assed manner. He’ll take credit for any perceived successes, and deny responsibility for any perceived shortcomings. Pretty solid analysis right here. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/25 "2018-01-12T15:20:36Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > his self-clutching is odd Are you talking about him grabbing himself? (Where?) Is this an expression?. I never watch TV so I have not noticed such a thing. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/26 "2018-01-12T15:32:54Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > Are you talking about him grabbing himself? (Where?) Is this an expression?. I never watch TV so I have not noticed such a thing. I think one of Trump’s staple body languages is he’s always punting his hand over his heart to get what he perceives as a salient point across. Which one might interpret as clutching his imaginary pearls. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/27 "2018-01-12T15:34:52Z")
The self-body-hugging is a classic defensive gesture. He feels vulnerable and attacked. He’s doing it a lot these days. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/28 "2018-01-12T15:47:15Z")
As more members of his administration are thrown under the the bus, there may be less people willing to work in his administration only be be thrown under the bus themselves. So with less other-people to blame, more stuff sticks to Donny boy? ---
**Author:** ![Runestar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/74df32/32.png) [@Runestar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runestar)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/29 "2018-01-12T16:03:30Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Yes, it’s hard to come up with a reasonably objective metric for “getting worse” in this context. > > But if he is, it’s not surprising. He came from an environment where he was in control of everything, he could get anything he wanted, and anyone who crossed him could be fired, intimidated or bought off. Now he’s subject to constant negative comments he can’t stem, forced to deal with a Congress he can’t fire or order around, surrounded by unreliable and incompetent cronies and family members he can’t trust, and the focus of a very serious investigation which could bring him, his businesses and his reputation crashing down that he can’t stop. Even a normally self-confident person would crack under those conditions and Trump was incredibly insecure to begin with. > > Add to that his questionable physical health and I’d be surprised if he _weren’t_ “getting worse”, even without any speculation about Alzheimers. This, exactly. I don’t think he actually wanted to be President, and he certainly didn’t understand what would be expected of him if he was, and the microscope he would be under. He’s always been surrounded by underlings who had to keep their mouths shut; now he’s dealing with Senators and Representatives who don’t have to kowtow to him, and he can’t deal with it. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/30 "2018-01-12T16:10:47Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > Are you talking about him grabbing himself? It seems as though there have been increased film bites of him in meetings, apparently aimed at suggesting he is somehow involved. “Making deals”, as it were. A great deal of the time he has his arms crossed in front of his chest - hugging himself. I’m no master of body language (and disfavor over-reliance on it in many situations), but arms crossed is generally suggestive of insecurity, defensiveness - definitely nothing strong and in control. Makes him look like the petulant child many of us think he is. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/31 "2018-01-12T16:51:28Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > My opinion: probably not. He was a psychopathic child when elected, as now. You are in no way qualified to make such a diagnosis. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/32 "2018-01-12T16:54:26Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > You are in no way qualified to make such a diagnosis. You are in no way qualified to assess other people’s qualifications to make diagnoses. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/33 "2018-01-12T16:55:08Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > You are in no way qualified to make such a diagnosis. Not formally perhaps, but there’s a general consensus that the man is an incompetent and dangerous asshole. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/34 "2018-01-12T17:10:26Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > You are in no way qualified to assess other people’s qualifications to make diagnoses. Wrong. Even if s/he were a professional, which I highly doubt, s/he would know that it’s unethical to make a diagnosis of someone one hasn’t examined. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/35 "2018-01-12T17:19:01Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Wrong. Even if s/he were a professional, which I highly doubt, s/he would know that it’s unethical to make a diagnosis of someone one hasn’t examined. Except in extreme cases where they feel the person in question may be a danger to the public. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/36 "2018-01-12T17:19:53Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Wrong. Even if s/he were a professional, which I highly doubt, s/he would know that it’s unethical to make a diagnosis of someone one hasn’t examined. Do you really think they were attempting to offer a medical diagnosis with that comment? They also referred to him as a child both now and at the time he was elected. Did you think they were literally saying he was under the age of 13 in November 2016? Or that he is currently an actual child? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/37 "2018-01-12T17:48:38Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Wrong. Even if s/he were a professional, which I highly doubt, s/he would know that it’s unethical to make a diagnosis of someone one hasn’t examined. In terms of ethics, which do you think is a more serious violation: 1. A doctor violating a standard of practice not to diagnose someone who is not their patient. 2. Trump’s multiple and ongoing ethics problems, per both Democratic and Republican former White House ethics advisers? I don’t mean that one ethics lapse excuses another, but I think it is important to establish the severity of an ethics breach in a more holistic context, such as comparing it to other breaches. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/38 "2018-01-12T17:58:06Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Wrong. Even if s/he were a professional, which I highly doubt, s/he would know that it’s unethical to make a diagnosis of someone one hasn’t examined. You should definitely file a formal complaint with the SDMB Opinion Review Board and offer to testify at the hearing. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/39 "2018-01-12T18:14:26Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > You are in no way qualified to make such a diagnosis. Call me crazy, but I’m pretty sure that was opinion and not a formal medical diagnosis. I know, crazy! ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/40 "2018-01-12T18:15:13Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > Are you talking about him grabbing himself? (Where?) Is this an expression?. I never watch TV so I have not noticed such a thing. He crosses his arms and kind of hugs himself. It seems more common now. A lot of impressions of Nixon had similar behavior, but I don’t know if he really did that, or it just became part of a Nixon schtick. The book seems to have triggered Trump. He has these moments, but when he comes back down, it seems to be a little worse, like he never resets completely. It’s most pronounced when he’s challenged by a woman, especially a woman of color. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444.md?page=3)