Donald Trump has sparked further mental health concerns after signing an executive order to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America. The US president also said on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attack a NATO country.
The comments came after reports emerged on Wednesday that CIA director John Ratcliffe had travelled to Moscow to warn Russia off any attack on a NATO member. However, his response was seen as a sign that is "worse than all of his worst critics predicted", as journalists James O'Brien and Simon Marks discussed on LBC Radio.
Jumped the shark
Simon, global affairs reporter at Feature Story News, spoke on the programme: "I think we have, as the Americans would put it, over the last 24 hours and arguably earlier than that, I think we've jumped the shark. I think you can't now debate really, whether he has the mental capacity to serve as president of the United States."
He continued: "Today is the six-month anniversary of the beginning of his war on Iran. He has no way out. In that Oval Office appearance yesterday, he was asked repeatedly why his CIA director had travelled to Moscow on a secret mission this week. Was it, as it has been reported, to warn the Russians to not to attack a NATO member state?"
CIA director's Moscow trip
CIA director John Ratcliffe flew to Russia on Tuesday to meet with intelligence counterparts, and it was understood that he had not been dispatched to deliver any particular message. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, saying: "I've had good talks with [Putin]. He's not going to attack a NATO territory."
But Trump's response was criticised as an "extraordinarily juvenile" action that could potentially "crater his approval ratings" in the upcoming midterm elections in November.
Hybrid actions against NATO
As Simon pointed out that there are documents showing that for many months that the Russians "have actually been engaged in hybrid actions against NATO member states", adding: "There are all sorts of major issues engulfing and beleaguering a president who is now 65 days away from November's midterm elections."
James added: "No one can pretend now that this is not worse than all of his worst critics predict."
Lake Ontario renamed
The US president has also signed an executive order seeking to change the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America. He claimed the change would take effect immediately, but it will apply only to the US, as President Trump cannot force Canada to follow his direction.
The decision was made after the trade talks between the US and Canada collapsed last week, and the US imposed new 50% tariffs on $20bn (£15bn) worth of Canadian goods. Canada said they will implement "dollar for dollar" counter-tariffs next month.
