Donald Trump: The loneliest president

Trump. Donald Trump. The presidency revolves entirely around what Donald J Trump thinks, believes and stands for.

He has always been an isolated figure, someone who likes the spotlight on him. But since becoming president he has slowly polarised those sympathetic or tolerant of him over the exit from the Paris Climate Agreement, the ban on transgender members of the military and the comments he made about the neo-Nazi violence in Charlottesville.

The comments he made about Charlottesville, apportioning blame to both sides of the rally, have been the hardest blow to the Trump presidency so far.

Over the space of around 48 hours he was denounced, criticised and abandoned by former presidents, Fox News, military leaders and congressmen.

Former presidents rarely speak up about issues of the day, particularly if it directly focuses on the incumbent president. However, in a damning statement, George H W Bush and his son George W Bush said: "America must always reject bigotry, anti-Semitism and hatred in all forms.

"We are all created equal and endowed by our Creator with unalienable rights.

"We know these truths to be everlasting because we have seen the decency and greatness of our country."

House leader Paul Ryan tweeted on Tuesday (15 August) that: "We must be clear. White supremacy is repulsive. This bigotry is counter to all this country stands for. There can be no moral ambiguity."

Fox News which is Trump's favourite media outlet even failed to find a single Republican or White House official to come on and defend him.

Fox News host Shepard Smith said: "Let's be honest, Republicans don't often really mind coming on Fox News Channel. We couldn't get anyone to come and defend him here because we thought, in balance, someone should do that."

Smith went onto raise the point that senior Republicans who had condemned Trump's statements didn't mention his name, so despite the outrage, the GOP are sticking by Trump albeit from a long distance.

The GOP aren't abandoning Trump, but after resolutely deciding to back him after the election, the cracks are beginning to show.

Another group who aren't abandoning him are his core voter base. More liberal-leaning Republicans and Independents are being pushed away, leaving the loyal Trump supporters.

Approval ratings have continued to tumble too for Trump, Wednesday's Gallup poll placed him at 36%, Barack Obama's lowest in eight years was 39%, while George W Bush only dipped to those levels during his second term when he was criticised for his response to Hurricane Katrina and the continued war in Iraq.

When advised to denounce neo-Nazis, he did so, unwillingly, and eventually backtracked, saying that he had been "liberated" when able to speak his mind.

The departure of CEOs that led to the dissolution of the president's economic and manufacturing councils was just another piece in the puzzle.

The presidency is always a tough and isolated job, but it seems Trump is at his happiest when left alone with his Twitter page.