I hate Joe Scarborough and his show. But this OP is right on. Trump was always a conman and a narcissistic pig. I’ve felt this way for 45 years, long before he was “political.” I felt this way when he was embraced by Hillary Clinton and supported her in return.
That doesn't mean Trump couldn’t be “charming” at times. He is himself an entertainer. A spoiled and ignorant man with a genius for public relations. When he turned on the Democrats he sometimes spoke truth about overseas wars, and stole the old program of the unions in favor of protectionism. But he always pandered to the most reactionary impulses and illlusions of Americans. Now old, under pressure, he is seemingly losing it. Doesn’t mean he can’t win in November.
A hollow but willful man like Trump, who in the past shrewdly and ruthlessly carved out a powerful place for himself in the sick American psyche, and rode the populist backlash to win the presidency, may crash and burn under pressure. He certainly does sometimes tweet as if he is an out of control lunatic, playing to a base that is often more insane than he, and equally cynical. His fanatical supporters love him even when they don’t believe his lies. They like that he lies so boldly, slanders all who criticize him. This is more than a little dangerous.
As much as I hate to admit it, I am considering holding my nose, crossing my fingers, and voting for that almost brain-dead Joe Biden In the coming election.