Trump then launched into a diatribe against NBC, claiming that it was fabricating "fake news" about his administration, and calling for the network's broadcast license to be revoked, apparently ignorant of the fact that there are no licenses for the networks and the federal government has no such legal authority.
This was not merely a manifestation of Trump's authoritarian proclivities. The White House is in deep internal crisis, with top officials leaking unflattering and alarmed comments about Trump's state of mind, inability to maintain a coherent policy, and tendency to fly off the handle over any public criticism.
The NBC report was based, according to the network, on three officials who attended the top-secret Pentagon meeting in the war room, and heard both Trump's remarks about nuclear weapons and Tillerson's "moron" comment.
The Washington Post reported Tuesday, in a remarkable front-page article, on the president "lashing out, rupturing alliances and imperiling his legislative agenda," citing "numerous White House officials and outside advisers.
"Trump in recent days has shown flashes of fury and left his aides, including White House chief of staff John F. Kelly, scrambling to manage his outbursts," the Post reported. "One Trump confidant likened the president to a whistling teapot, saying that when he does not blow off steam, he can turn into a pressure cooker and explode. 'I think we are in pressure cooker territory,' said this person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk candidly."
At least one of the "18 White House officials, outside advisers and other Trump associates" interviewed for this highly unflattering portrait was identified the following day as Thomas Barrack, a real-estate multi-millionaire and longtime Trump crony and adviser, who chaired the fundraising committee for his inauguration, but now describes himself as "appalled" by the tone of Trump's tweetstorms.
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