Head Of State

The President of the United States holds two jobs: head of government and head of state.

As head of government, the President is responsible for making sure the laws of the country are executed, the national defense provided for and generally overseeing the executive branch.  There are solid arguments that Trump isn't doing this job, effectively farming it out to Mick Mulvaney, who has executed a silent coup within the West Wing.  We won't REALLY know just how inept a head of government Trump is until we get access to his historical 'papers' and the tell-all books are written.

But we can assess Trump's conduct as head of state right now.  A head of state is the elected manifestation of the nation, which is to say the people.  The presidency is unique in that it combines head of state and head of government (most systems divide the office).  The role of head of state is to unify the nation as much as possible, especially at moments of tragedy.  Reagan when the Challenger exploded, Clinton after Oklahoma City, Bush after 9/11 and Obama after Newtown.  Those were moments when presidents stood up and bore the burden of a national tragedy and helped unite the country.

Trump is manifestly incapable of doing that.  The photos from his visit to Dayton are simply appalling.  Selfies with a rictus grin.  Odd thumbs up gestures.  It was the president as celebrity: complete with full on narcissism.  Trump was in Dayton so that people could look at Trump in Dayton.  He was not there to heal or bring together the country.

Maybe it will be the deciding factor, but more likely it will simply be another stone piled upon his political grave.