Bile and disdain
Like a sixth grader: After having to explain to Trump that the American military presence in South Korea was helping to prevent World War III, Defence Secretary James Mattis “was particularly exasperated and alarmed, telling close associates that the President acted like — and had the understanding of — ‘a fifth- or sixth-grader’.”
We’re in Crazytown: In one meeting, Chief of Staff John Kelly said about the President, “He’s an idiot. It’s pointless to try to convince him of anything. He’s gone off the rails. We’re in Crazytown. I don’t even know why any of us are here. This is the worst job I’ve ever had.”
Like a little rat: Trump said then-Chief of Staff Reince Priebus was “like a little rat. He just scurries around.”
Insulting his suits: Trump mocked National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster behind his back, doing some sort of impression of him and insulting his suits.
You’re past your prime: Trump said to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, “I don’t trust you. I don’t want you doing any more negotiations. . . . You’re past your prime.”
Stealing papers: Economic adviser Gary Cohn would steal papers off Trump’s desk in order to stop him from doing something Cohn thought was stupid. Trump never noticed.
Professional liar: Cohn came to regard the President as a “professional liar” and tried to resign after Trump complimented the white supremacists in Charlottesville.
Goddamn dumbbell: Trump’s former lawyer, John Dowd, conducted a practice session with the President for a potential interview with Special Counsel Robert Mueller, later telling Mueller why the results meant Trump could not be interviewed: “I’m not going to sit there and let him look like an idiot,” Dowd said. “And you publish that transcript, because everything leaks in Washington, and the guys overseas are going to say, ‘I told you he was an idiot. I told you he was a goddamn dumbbell. What are we dealing with this idiot for?’ ”
Dumb southerner: Trump said of Attorney-General Jeff Sessions, “This guy is mentally retarded. He’s this dumb Southerner . . . He couldn’t even be a one-person country lawyer down in Alabama.”