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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Politics
Niamh McIntyre

Donald Trump is stressed out, isolated and gaining weight, says new report

Donald Trump is becoming increasingly isolated and stressed as the demands of the Presidency take its toll, according to a new report.

"He now lives within himself, which is a dangerous place for Donald Trump to be," one source close to Mr Trump told CNN.

"I see him emotionally withdrawing. He's gained weight. He doesn't have anybody whom he trusts."

The President was already “in a pretty glum mood” before his first foreign trip to the Middle East and Europe, according to the source.

On his return, his woes intensified as fresh  allegations emerged which centre on the role of the President’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in communications with the Russian government.

Last week, The Washington Post reported Mr Kushner had met a Russian ambassador to discuss setting up a channel which would be immune from security monitoring.

A security analyst who worked at the CIA for 25 years said yesterday it was “hard to believe” the President had no knowledge of his son-in-law’s actions.

I’m going to presume he did this at the behest of the President-elect of the United States,” Philip Mudd told CNN.

As ever, the President dismissed the allegations as the work of the “fake news media”.

Mr Trump is also facing an uphill battle over his hugely unpopular healthcare reforms.

The government is making a second attempt to replace Obamacare after it was forced to withdraw its last bill in a high-profile failure for the President.

The first American Health Care Act (AHCA) was pulled after it was clear it did not have sufficient support from Republicans.

It squeezed through the House of Representatives by 217 votes to 213 - but now faces a tough challenge in the Senate.  

The latest attempt faces unanimous opposition from the Democrats, as well as a number of Republicans including Ohio governor John Kasich.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConell admitted last week he “didn’t know” how the Republicans would be able to reach the 50-vote majority required.

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