Advisers to President Donald Trump tell Axios they are increasingly alarmed that, as his authority diminishes, he may "act out" more frequently. The report frames this behavior as rooted in Trump's view of power as a zero‑sum game and cites examples such as the ban on CNN, MSNBC and Politico. Sources say he can be pleasant but may quickly become irritable; aides link recent actions to frustrations over the Iran war, fuel prices and tariffs. The story echoes reporting in the Wall Street Journal about a president under mounting pressure.
Advisers Warn Trump May 'Act Out' More as His Grip on Power Slips, Report Says
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump's recent decision to bar CNN, MSNBC and Politico from the White House has prompted concerns among some of his closest advisers, who say the move reflects "his worst impulses when he feels most powerless," according to a new Axios report.
Advisers Describe Growing Frustration
In a feature titled "Behind the Curtain: Trump's Future Foretold," Axios co‑founders Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen report that allies are increasingly worried about how the president will behave as his term winds down. The writers say the "skeleton key" to understanding Trump is that he views power as a zero‑sum game — a winner and a loser — and that belief shapes his reactions.
"He thinks constantly about exercising power, and believes power is a zero‑sum game — a winner and a loser," VandeHei and Allen write.
Sources quoted in the piece say Trump can often be "in a good mood," but some privately note he can become "too cranky too quickly," a trait they partially attribute to his age — "his 80 years on Earth," as the report puts it.
Why Advisers Fear He Might 'Act Out'
The Axios story suggests Trump may "act out to exert what control he can because he's lost the political argument — if not the military one." The writers link that impulse to recent developments they say have undercut his messaging, including the administration's handling of the Iran war, rising fuel costs and unpopular tariffs that critics say contribute to inflation and voter dissatisfaction.
The report also notes that the decision to bar the three outlets reportedly followed clips shown to Mr. Trump by his aide Natalie Harp featuring MSNBC personalities criticizing him.
Echoes From Other Coverage
The Axios piece follows a Wall Street Journal article headlined "Wave of Setbacks Leaves Trump Frustrated and Looking for Credit," which similarly described a president who has grown more frustrated and, at times, prone to lashing out as setbacks have mounted.
What this means: Advisers' accounts in Axios portray a White House trying to manage both public perception and internal anxiety about how the president will respond to mounting political and geopolitical pressures as his term continues.
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