Donald Trump‘s former aide reportedly has a harsh three‑word nickname for him, according to a journalist critiquing his recent conduct. While arguing that the President showed signs of “chronic instability” during his first term in the White House, Patrick Cockburn also criticised Trump’s recent approach regarding the conflict with Iran.

This week, the 79-year-old said the United States is “getting very close to meeting our objectives” and suggested winding down U.S. military operations in the Middle East.

He also argued that responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz should fall to nations that depend on it for oil and trade, while offering his country’s assistance if needed.

In his column for The i Newspaper, titled ‘Trump’s disastrous error shows how unstable he has become’, the journalist claimed that Trump “still cannot give a coherent explanation as to why he started it and why it is in America’s best interest” three weeks into the conflict.

“As for its devastating impact on the world economy, his response has been to deny that his ‘short-term excursion’ is having such a calamitous effect, though every screen in the world is showing towering flames and black smoke shooting from the oil and gas fields of the gulf,” he wrote.

“I used to quote a former aide of Trump who described the President as ‘a cunning nutter’ because the phrase succinctly summed up his bizarre mix of shrewd political operator and all-too-real nuttiness.”

Following Trump’s latest press conference, Patrick claimed the President “showed himself sunk deep in delusions about his attack on Iran” and claimed he was “far more terrifying” than “a mad sheep”.

Questioning how he was voted back into the White House, he continued: “Megalomania is common among the powerful, but in Trump’s case it combines with pre-existing traits, such as a lack of conscient, remorse, truthfulness or empathy which may go along with impulsiveness and over-confidence.

“In many societies, his glaring faults would disbar him from holding any post of authority, but Americans have twice voted to send him to the White House.”

On Friday, Trump issued a lengthy update on his Truth Social platform, in which he claimed the US is “very close” to achieving its objective in the Middle Eastern country.

Alongside five points, he also claimed he is considering winding down “our great military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran”.

He added: “(1) Completely degrading Iranian Missile Capability, Launchers, and everything else pertaining to them. (2) Destroying Iran’s Defense Industrial Base. (3) Eliminating their Navy and Air Force, including Anti Aircraft Weaponry.

(4) Never allowing Iran to get even close to Nuclear Capability, and always being in a position where the U.S.A. can quickly and powerfully react to such a situation, should it take place.

“(5) Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern Allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others.”

Signing off the post, he thanked fans for their attention to the matter, before concluding with his name.