Driving the news: Trump remained defiant about the midterm elections, blaming the war in Iran and Republican Party candidates for the losses, while spending much time discussing planned construction projects in Washington.
- On Friday, Trump announced he would replace White House chief of staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller, a supporter of his hardest-line policies.
- The move could indicate that the president plans to press even harder on some of his unpopular policies, write Axios’ Marc Caputo and Andrew Pantazi.
Zoom: Voters told Trump loud and clear that they were unhappy with his policies, particularly regarding the war in Iran, the cost of living and the economy.
- About two-thirds of voters said Trump’s agenda fueled inflation, according to the AP poll.
- Trump admitted that this unpopular war helped Republicans lose their majority. With Democrats poised to control Congress and potentially restrict war funding, he has few good options for a decisive victory.
- As one of his former advisers, Barak Ravid of Axios, said: “It’s one thing to lose the midterm elections. But Trump doesn’t want to look like a loser twice.”
What they say: “I don’t think conciliation is part of (Trump’s) vocabulary or philosophy,” Republican strategist Barrett Marson told Axios, calling Miller’s nomination proof that Trump won’t “go away quietly.”
- “He took the architect of many of the worst policies and elevated him. I’m not sure what that amounts to recognizing voter discontent,” Marson said.
- Marson said Trump’s inability to run for president again could make him even less concerned about political consequences.
- He also noted that Trump has a massive war chest he could use to control Republican politicians early in the 2028 election cycle.
The other side: “As the president has said, he is willing to work with anyone to continue delivering victories for hard-working Americans,” White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis told Axios in an emailed statement.
- “If Democrats choose to pursue sham investigations and radical left-wing policies, they are choosing to work against the American people.”
Zoom out: The president’s headaches also extend to his legal battles and ambitious construction projects.
- A New York appeals court heard arguments from Trump on Thursday in his bid to overturn his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
- His lawyers argued the conviction was tainted by legal errors and inadmissible evidence, but the court has yet to rule.
In the small hours Last Friday, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a temporary restraining order barring construction of Trump’s planned 250-foot triumphal arch for 14 days, just hours after the National Capital Planning Commission approved the project.
- The order followed a lawsuit filed by DC and Virginia and blocked construction, excavation and road closures related to the arch. The project would dominate a road leading to Arlington National Cemetery and has drawn opposition from preservation groups, veterans and families of those buried at the cemetery.
- White House spokesman Davis Ingle blasted the judge’s decision on the ark, saying the administration was confident it would be “fully vindicated as this litigation continues.”
Between the lines: Republican strategist John Feehery, who spoke with Axios ahead of Friday’s chief of staff shakeup, said Trump could still strike deals with Democrats to cement his legacy, but acknowledged his influence over congressional Republicans could diminish.
- “I don’t think he’s going to control the Republicans to the extent that he has, I think the Republicans are going to try to find their own brand,” Feehery said.
The bottom line: Trump is the king of the political comeback — and no one should expect him to turn around during his lame duck season.
Go further: Trump, under pressure, assumes role of builder in chief
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