I recently met Nick Nanton at a conference. He makes some great points.

Donald Trump had hardly finished his self-congratulation on the Obama birth issue when his own credibility was suddenly, and forcefully, attacked.

It began at the White House Dinner when Obama roasted Trump with surprising and well-delivered wit. The verbal smackdown then went viral on YouTube, national talk shows, and news broadcasts. The president concluded his comic lashing with a pointed comment about there being “more serious issues” to focus on. 24-hours later that would prove to be the understatement of the year. With poetic irony, Obama’s dramatic announcement preempted the final minutes of Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice.

Since then, Trump has become the butt of Facebook and Twitter jabs, and late night jokes including one from David Letterman which prompted Trump to cancel his May 18th appearance. When The Donald cancels an appearance on a national talk show like Letterman, you know he’s in retreat mode.

In trying to raise his political profile via public attacks on Obama, Trump seems to have grabbed the baton from a quickly fading Sarah Palin. Like Palin, Trump is no stranger to public criticism and comedic jabs. Some may even argue that he thrives on it. However, the multiple hits that the Trump brand suffered this weekend will definitely cause some re-consideration of his presidential bid. And, at least in the short term, it may even get him to shut up.

When it comes to health, career, and child custody, he may not be winning. But he knows how to build a Twitter following: 2 days. 1,574,618 followers.

I recall some study saying that “genius” and “madness” are linked. I submit that Mel Gibson supports that claim. (Brian Wilson, Van Gogh and Phil Spector are other good examples.) The takeaway I get from all these celeb cases is that fame, and fortune, and celebrity, come with a price. And, if one is careless, a respected personal brand based on a lifetime of painstaking work and exceptional achievement can come crashing down in a matter of hours.

Can anything repair his personal brand?

… or forever tarnished? What’s your comment?