'Unraveling' before everyone's eyes: The week exposed Trump's collapse

President Donald Trump attends an observance ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon, in Washington, D.C., September 11, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

President Donald Trump is making it "impossible" to ignore just how badly he is "unraveling" before everyone's eyes, and according to a new breakdown from The Daily Beast, and this week marked a moment in time that proved it.

Hugh Dougherty, the outlet's executive editor, appeared as a guest on the latest episode of The Daily Beast Podcast with host Joanna Coles to break down the latest alarming developments from Trump's week, including his "unhinged" social media comments, odd assertions at the GOP midterm convention and struggles while attending a 9/11 memorial event. Taken altogether, Dougherty argued that this week made it "very hard to argue that he is not unraveling."

"I think, yes, we have seen evidence this week that suggests he's unraveling," Dougherty said. "We saw if we go back to the Labor Day weekend, dozens and dozens and dozens of unhinged social media postings... The one that jumps out... is him in an animation attacking Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, with a hockey stick. There are other ones, one sparked an international incident because he wanted to take over Iceland, and there was just this series of things. He was obviously up, up late. He was, you know, he was posting on Truth Social late at night. His family were not around him, rather notably, over this Labor Day weekend."

Amid everything, Dougherty noted that Trump's behavior towards ABC reporter Rachel Scott and his appearance at an event memorializing those lost in the September 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon were particularly revealing. Scott pressed the president about the $5,000 checks he promised for every American adult should the GOP prevail in the midterms, asking why he needed such an incentive to entice voters if his policies are working, and with the country still $40 trillion in debt.

“Not you. Not you!” Trump shouted at Scott, leaning in closer to her. “Hey, not you. Your network… you’re the worst.”

Throughout the 9/11 event, Trump appeared noticeably tired, something that he has struggled with during his second term, and specifically seemed to slump over and fall asleep during the reading of victim names.

“This very public going after Rachel Scott, which is atrocious," Dougherty said. Then this morning, falling asleep during the names. I think it’s impossible to see that this is anything other than a revelation of character, an unraveling and opening up of Trump in a way that we have not seen before: not even during the appalling mishandling of COVID, when it was clear that his administration then was teetering on the brink. Not even after Jan. 6, when people deserted him.”

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