Overview
- The New York Times reported that 16 current and former administration officials described a growing sense of gloom at the White House driven by a tighter circle of confidants and sharper private reactions from the president.
- Officials say Natalie Harp has moved closer to the president’s workspace and that Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte and other loyalists now have outsized access to the president’s attention and media choices.
- The report cites episodes that illustrate the shift in tone, including the president’s fury after a Bill Maher monologue and a roughly 1,300‑word Truth Social post he dictated aboard Air Force One.
- Many competitive Republican campaigns have privately distanced themselves from the president, and advisers warn that his rallies and refusal to heed unfavorable polls could hurt the party’s prospects in key House races.
- White House spokespeople publicly defended the president, but advisers are preparing for possible House losses and for personnel changes if Democrats win control and step up oversight.