Donald Trump ghostwriter predicts his resignation by the end of the year

The ghostwriter of Donald Trump's book The Art of the Deal has predicted the US president's resignation by the end of the year.

Tony Schwartz wrote on Twitter: “The circle is closing at blinding speed. Trump is going to resign and declare victory before Mueller and congress leave him no choice.”

Special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into possible Russian collusion on Trump’s campaign has intensified in recent weeks as the president’s opponents voiced hopes it could lead to the end of his term.

Reports emerged last week that the former FBI chief’s team raided the Virginia home of the US president’s campaign chief Paul Manafort.

Mr Schwartz wrote in another: “Trump's presidency is effectively over. Would be amazed if he survives till end of the year. More likely resigns by fall, if not sooner.”

The writer, who grew close to the mogul while writing the book, added: “Remember that every time Trump criticizes and demeans someone he is projecting his deep sense of inadequacy & self-hatred onto others.”

He concluded: “Trump must be isolated. Resistance every day. The end is near but must keep pressure high.”

Mr Schwartz has spoken in the past of his guilt over his work on the New York Times bestseller, telling the New Yorker magazine he had “put lipstick on a pig”.

He claimed he was motivated by money to write the book, for which he spent 18 months with Mr Trump in the 1980s.

“I feel a deep sense of remorse that I contributed to presenting Trump in a way that brought him wider attention and made him more appealing than he is,” he told the New Yorker.

He added in the interview that if he had the chance to write the book again now he would call it “The Sociopath”.