I have written about this before.

Trump has been the king of every room he’s entered for at least the last 15-20 years, definitely the last 10, and he’s kept his energy up by doing what he does best—walking around people who love him, telling his jokes, and hearing about how great he is. That’s his real energy drink, and it’s a strong one.

He is not the world’s most contemplative man. He hates criticism – at least, by all accounts we’ve read, ask ketchup – and he hates to sit still. And yet, now – he is forced to sit quietly in courtrooms in which he’s on trial for alleged criminal acts. He must behave or face the consequences. Even sitting for that long seems like a chore for Trump, and he is most certainly not the biggest person in the room.

It makes him look smaller, more humble, more human—and thus less like the invincible leader. This could hurt him immensely, especially as the trial wears on. Will he be able to keep his cool inside and outside the courtroom? Will he even sound like himself if he wins the case in Manhattan? What if he loses?

It is hard to “unsee” the pictures. He looks defeated already. Brian Karem, Playboy’s political correspondent, wrote in Salon.com that this “new Trump look” may cause problems for him among the MAGA faithful because Trump “seems to be melting into a puddle of his own makeup and sweat.”

“This opens up speculation as to what will go on in Milwaukee when the MAGA faithful descend like a horde of cicadas to choose their candidate for president. It is presupposed that Trump, no matter what, will become the nominee. But there are whispers, and growing speculation among the faithful and the faithless in MAGA land that Donald Trump may not be up for the job.”

Well, fair is fair. For years, the MAGA faithful have said that Joe Biden hasn’t been “up to the job” (while getting the job done). But this really will test Trump in a way that marching and dancing in front of thousands will not. We know that Trump can do that. Can Trump sit in a five-hour meeting talking about the latest Iranian move in the Middle East?

It is tough to tell, and it is bothering people inside Team Trump, according to Karem:

“For the first time. I’ve started to think about what we would do if Trump isn’t our candidate. It’s a real s–t show to consider.”

“Trump can’t run. Trump can’t hide.”

Don’t tell anyone but I long thought that Chris Christie would be a far bigger threat to Joe Biden than Donald Trump. Christie is also a boisterous “F-You” guy from the Northeast – but Christie knows what he’s talking about and could be counted on in an emergency, like an epidemic.

“Trump can’t do all the things that have enabled him to thrive as a despotic grifter his entire life. His mind is slipping, his grip on the world is weakening and at the end of the day, Donald Trump recognizes it. You can see it in his eyes. His last cogent thought may well be the recognition that he’s the world’s largest loser and everything he’s done his entire life has led to utter failure.”

We spent four years hearing his mind was slipping. To the extent that it’s true, it’s more because Trump is so out of his element that he doesn’t know how to react. This is uncharted territory, and one can see it in his eyes.

The ultimate question is whether his faithful followers see it in his eyes – the fear, the weakness, and the hesitation. Spells are strong until they’re broken, but once they’re broken, they don’t come back, hence the quote above from the insider in Trump’s tent. There is no “Plan B” if Trump can’t go.

There is reason for MAGA concern even if Trump wins the Manhattan trial – his strongest case – and all the federal cases are prolonged past the November election.

Oh – and there is President Biden who has passed the “Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill,” lowered drug costs, fought student loans, brought NATO back together to face the Russian threat…

Time will tell, and time is ticking for Trump.

****
Jason Miciak is Executive Editor for Political Flare and Editor at Large for Occupy Democrats, he can be reached at [email protected]