The Daily Beast Podcast Why Fading Trump, 79, Just Keeps Losing: Rothkopf
Sep 13, 2025
David Rothkopf, a foreign policy expert and former Clinton administration official, joins to discuss the chaotic recent weeks of Donald Trump's presidency. They explore Trump's vulnerabilities, both physically and politically, as well as the rising tide of political violence in America, particularly among alienated young men. Rothkopf highlights the embarrassment of Trump's allies and the diplomatic challenges faced by the U.S., questioning if we are witnessing the decline of both a president and Trumpism itself. Amidst this, Utah's Governor Spencer Cox emerges as a surprising voice of civility.
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Violence Intensifies Political Stress
- Rothkopf links the murder of Charlie Kirk and recent assassination attempts to Trump's heightened fear about his own mortality.
- He suggests this environment of political violence is compounding Trump's stress and public perception of decline.
Shooters Often Aren't Political
- Rothkopf observes many shooters are alienated young men influenced by gaming culture rather than strictly ideological actors.
- He argues the root causes of violence lie in social pathology: isolation, online radicalization, mental-health gaps, and easy access to guns.
Reduce Harm By Strengthening Community Care
- Rothkopf highlights reducing gun access and expanding mental-health care as central to addressing political violence.
- He also praises Governor Spencer Cox's call to restore civility and community engagement as a counter to division.