'Incompetent' Trump in dire straits as 'bread and circuses' routine backfires: author

The "correct" view of President Donald Trump as an incompetent leader is gaining acceptance as his "bread and circuses" routine backfires, according to one author.

Kurt Andersen, the former founder of Spy Magazine, discussed Trump's sliding poll numbers during a new episode of "The Daily Beast Podcast" on Sunday with host Joanna Coles, the outlet's chief content officer. Andersen argued that Trump once provided voters with an "entertaining" alternative to America's otherwise drab political scene, but his entertainment value has tanked as the cost-of-living crisis continues to erode household budgets.

Andersen also noted that Trump's schtick has started to expose just how "incompetent" a leader he is.

"Failing at even this inconsequential stuff like the Great American State Fair, it feeds the correct view that I think is spreading among more people that, wow, he's kind of incompetent," Andersen told Coles. "Here we are trying this authoritarian who can't even make the trains run on time."

Andersen added that the old adage that leaders need to provide "bread and circuses" to remain in power has started to crack under the weight of inflation caused by Trump's war in Iran.

"Bread and circuses, as has been said, for thousands of years, is fine if you've got the bread," Andersen said. "But just the circus alone and giant ballrooms for rich people and giant tax benefits for rich people and giant crypto scams for rich people while I can't afford meat at the grocery store, that doesn't go down so well."