Trump’s second term has become a festival of surprises for the American public and his own loyalists alike. In the last week, the former president faced an unexpected courtroom decision and a Senate showdown – all while insisting the world should see his version of events.
The most dramatic scene was the dropping of felony charges against a former Olympian who had damaged the Reflecting Pool near the Washington Monument. Chief U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, a long‑time ally, cited a “botched installation” rather than vandalism. Trump slammed her decision on Truth Social, calling her action “folded like an umbrella.” This episode exemplified his continued faith in alternative facts, even when evidence points elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Todd Blanche, the acting Attorney General, faced blockades from two Republican senators who balked at his proposed $1.8 bn “anti‑weaponisation fund.” After Blanche withdrew the plan, the senators released letters that cleared the way for his nomination – a dramatic, behind‑the‑scenes power play now echoing across Capitol Hill.
On the international front, Trump’s narrative of an ongoing Iran war has also hit a snag. He claims Iran has been lying about negotiations while promising that a large‑scale attack would have “caught the U.S. by surprise.” Yet official U.S. and Iranian sources say no new talks are underway, and a current poll shows his approval linger at about 33 percent – the lowest since the 2016 election and below most mid‑term hopefuls.
These setbacks come as voters will head to the polls for the mid‑term elections in just three months. Whether Trump’s grip will weaken or, as he often claims, strengthen under pressure remains to be seen, but the stakes for both the president and the republic are higher than ever.
