Week 91 — The Return

This week Trump finds himself hitting all sorts of unenviable records for lowest approval, least public support for a war, and lowest approval on economic issues, even as midterm elections are now just three months away. Trump dismissed the polls as fake — a tactic he used during his first regime — but there is also a vast difference in his sentiment and approach this go-round. In his second regime, Trump does not seem to care about his polling data or Republican losses; rather, he has other priorities.

An NYT reporter explained that Trump’s major focus now is on his legacy projects: putting his name and image wherever possible, especially in Washington D.C., before his time in office runs out. Since he has also been reported as saying he will pardon his entire regime before leaving office, he is less worried about what Democrats can do with control of the House and potentially the Senate. He has also shown little interest in actual policy or governing in this second year of his second regime. His cabinet likewise has little to show for their time in power. Other than his legacy, Trump continues to focus on personally enriching himself, and raising hundreds of millions to pay for all his pet projects.

Trump is facing some pushback this week, although minor, and hardly a profile in courage given that most of it is coming from outgoing members of Congress. U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro dropped charges relating to Trump’s Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, raising his ire while revealing his lies and his regime’s incompetence. Federal judges continued to rule against Trump’s efforts to federalize midterms and other extreme measures. Trump’s Iran war is a complete mess, and risks turning into an endless quagmire, which will further mar his disastrous performance.

1. An AP-NORC poll found approval for Trump’s Iran War was declining: just 28% approved of the way he was handling the war, 33% said the war was worthwhile, and 23% said the U.S. should continue military action, while 72% said it was more important to keep gas prices down.
2. NYT reported polls also showed Trump’s approval hitting new lows with three select pollsters: 34% at CNN-SSRS, 33% for AP-NORC, and 32% for Quinnipiac, making him the most unpopular second-term president at this stage other than Richard Nixon days before he resigned.
3. Unlike past presidents, Trump did not change his approach or course correct; rather, he claimed the polls were fake, and that his approval was the highest it had ever been. Trump was the only president in modern times to take the country to war without public support.
4. On Monday, Trump posted on Truth Social, “My REAL Polling Numbers, not those made up by the Fake News Media, are the best they have ever been,” praising all his alleged accomplishments, and adding, “don’t believe the Radical Left’s Fake Poll numbers.”
5. Reuters reported that although Trump campaigned on bringing back free speech, federal judges had ruled against him and his regime for infringing on First-Amendment rights, including freedom of speech, religion, and the press, in 75 rulings across 93 cases.
6. WAPO reported that after Judge John McConnell, a chief federal judge, ruled against Trump, he was subject to credible death threats, his daughter was doxxed, two GOP House members tried to impeach him, and an insurance company canceled his homeowners policy.
7. U.S. Treasury yields surged to the highest level since 2007, just before the Global Financial Crisis, after Trump’s hand-picked Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh failed to give sufficient feedback to Wall Street. Trump had bullied the former chair over rates being too high.
8. WSJ reported on Trump’s unprecedented fundraising operation: as the first sitting president to take control of fundraising, he had raised over $800 million for his pet projects, while at the same time he had inserted himself directly into regulatory decisions impacting donors.
9. Trump speaks to his fundraiser Meredith O’Rourke daily to get an update on donations, and to give her names of donors, lobbyists, and executives to call, directing her to ask for $5 million to $50 million. In exchange, some donors are offered access to Trump.
10. Newsweek reported corporations, many of whom were major donors to Trump, had received billions of dollars in tariff refunds, including Apple receiving $2.2 billion, Ford and General Motors $1.3 billion, and Amazon $600 million, part of which was passed to consumers.
11. Attorneys general from 25 states sued the Trump regime over its new tariffs, calling them a pretext for replacing the tariffs that were ruled illegal by the Supreme Court, saying Trump was trying to “illegally raise taxes on families and businesses with a new round of tariffs.”
12. Truth Social’s “Truth API” went live on Saturday, launching a paid subscription service for $100,000 per month that gave users access to Trump’s market moving posts before the general public sees them. Former SEC officials said the scheme appeared to be illegal.
13. NPR reported one Wall Street executive said Trump API was “insane,” adding they and their contacts were “not getting anywhere near this. In another administration, this would be considered criminal.” Democratic senators demanded an SEC investigation.
14. NYT reported companies were rushing to close deals before Trump left office, as he and his regime were viewed as fostering the most favorable regulatory environment for businesses in decades, including closing deals that would be unlikely to pass muster in previous administrations.
15. The Commerce Department quietly announced that it had taken equity stakes in seven private companies using funds set aside by the Biden administration’s CHIPS and Science Act. GOP Sen. Todd Young, who helped draft the act, said the funding was not meant for this use.
16. NYT reported that Trump’s White House ballroom and bunker construction continued even as cases wound themselves through the court system, and even when courts ordered the regime to halt. Currently the matter was before an appeals court.
17. On Wednesday, Trump announced a sweeping makeover of Dulles International Airport, after months of his personal edits, which would cost $20 billion and take years to complete, marking Trump’s latest effort to leave his mark on D.C. construction.
18. The National Park Service assessed that Trump’s proposed arch would change the D.C. skyline such that the views from dozens of historic places would be altered, including disrupting the symbolic relationship between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
19. The assessment was required by the regime ahead of seeking final approval by the National Capital Planning Commission. Trump seemed poised to move ahead with his arch as planned, and not make alterations to the height or location of the arch to address the issues.
20. WAPO reported Trump was unhappy with how the White House helipad was turning out, and ordered contractors to redo weeks of around-the-clock work to have it ready in time for a visit from China’s president. Lockheed Martin was said to be paying for the $5 million plus project.
21. On Wednesday, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution formally urging Trump not to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell. The resolution came amid a contentious debate over confirming Todd Blanche as attorney general, with his handling of the Epstein files being one of the issues.
22. On Wednesday, Trump told reporters he had the votes in the Senate to kill the filibuster, and sowed doubt on whether Majority Leader John Thune was fit to lead, saying, “We will find out.” Thune responded Thursday, telling reporters, “He doesn’t vote in our elections.”
23. On Thursday, Trump said he might withdraw Blanche’s nomination after GOP Sens. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn, both on the Senate Judiciary Committee, demanded changes in writing to Trump’s so-called “anti-weaponization” funds, including the language on IRS audits.
24. Trump posted on Truth Social that the two “whose political careers have been ended by my action” were refusing his “Great Nominee.” Cornyn posted that Trump was “mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited” to the two.
25. On Friday, Trump posted that Cornyn “never had a problem with the so called ‘Fund,’ which will not benefit me, but rather the great American Patriots…whose lives were unfairly and illegally destroyed” by the Biden administration, until Trump endorsed his primary opponent.
26. Later Friday, at a cabinet meeting held at Camp David, members of Trump’s cabinet took turns lavishing praise on him for the first 40 minutes, praising his policies and sharing claims about their impact.
27. Trump defended his anti-weaponization fund when asked by a reporter, saying, “Is it dead…I wish it weren’t. To be honest with you, I think people were horribly treated, horribly abused,” adding, “This has nothing to do with Todd [Blanche].”
28. Trump added that he did not want to personally benefit from the fund, baselessly claiming, “I probably was abused more than anybody in the history of our country,” and adding, “but I wasn’t looking for that.”
29. Later Friday, the Trump regime appealed a judge’s ruling which had denounced the legitimacy of Trump’s $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, including the IRS protections, another sign that the fund was not actually dead as previously claimed by both Trump and Blanche.
30. On Saturday, Trump threatened to revive the anti-weaponization fund if Blanche’s nomination was blocked, saying, “Blanche was a voice of reason,” and the fund “will immediately be back on the table, and I will get it done.”
31. Late Sunday, Blanche formally rescinded the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization deal in order to smooth his nomination process with the two GOP senators, saying in a one page order that the fund “is rescinded and shall have no force or effect.”
32. The order clarified that the tax audit immunity for Trump, his family, and businesses applied “only retroactively,” still delivering a major victory for Trump. Critics pointed out that the order does not bind anyone, nor does it preclude Trump from paying out funds other ways.
33. Capital One Financial said in a court filing that it had closed hundreds of accounts belonging to Trump’s real estate company in 2021 after a review by the bank’s anti-money laundering team, and asked the judge to throw out Trump’s lawsuit claiming he had been illegally debanked.
34. A federal judge tossed FBI Director Kash Patel’s July 2023 lawsuit against a blogger who called him a “googly-eyed Kremlin bitch,” finding that he did not have “personal jurisdiction” over the internet commentator.
35. The FBI Agents Association, an association of thousands of agents, filed a brief in support of the lawsuit by three FBI employees who were fired as part of Patel’s 2025 purge, over their roles in investigating Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election. DOJ alums also filed in support.
36. CNN reported that research by the Center for Strategic and International Studies found that U.S. weapons stockpiles of Patriot interceptors were down from 2,200 to 827, and THAAD missiles were down from 452 to 278, severely limiting the ability to defend U.S. targets.
37. WAPO reported Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, head of U.S. European Command, privately warned the Pentagon that he lacked sufficient Navy destroyers to protect Israel from incoming ballistic missiles, amid the Iran War.
38. Reuters reported the U.S. had used “virtually all” of the Army’s highly accurate long-range missiles during the Iran war. The Army had also used almost half of its global Tomahawk supply. Experts said the low supplies could impact U.S. readiness should another conflict break out.
39. On Wednesday, NBC News reported Trump exploded during a recent security meeting with some of his top military officials, screaming expletives. An ally said Trump was “exasperated,” and there was “not a real strategy for how long or what they should do.”
40. On Thursday, a Senate vote to limit Trump’s Iran war powers failed 50–49, the second resolution to fail in the past two weeks, even as the conflict entered its sixth month, with no real plan to end it.
41. On Thursday, NYT reported that according to U.S. and state officials, Iran was likely behind a cyberattack on more than 30 water systems in Minnesota, an act of aggression. There was no indication that the breaches contaminated or disrupted water delivery.
42. During the cabinet meeting on Friday, Trump blamed Minnesota’s Democratic governor for the cyberattack, saying, “I blame it on Minnesota because they’re grossly incompetent,” adding, “Iran’s got bigger problems than worrying about Minnesota.”
43. Trump also said at the cabinet meeting that he had ordered the military to launch fresh attacks on Iran, and a major escalation, saying, “We will be hitting them very hard,” and claiming, “And you know at some point, they’re going to say, ‘We just can’t take it anymore.’”
44. Late Saturday, Trump called off the planned attack on Iran, claiming on Truth Social that “the perimeters of a deal had been agreed to,” and claiming that Iran and Middle Eastern countries had asked him to pull back, and he agreed “for the further benefit of the WORLD.”
45. Trump claimed the U.S. had been ready to attack Iran with “levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II,” but that the new deal included a “complete and total” opening of the Strait of Hormuz and “an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.”
46. Later Sunday, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that “It would have been the biggest attack since World War II,” and talks would begin on Monday, claiming Iran “would much prefer a deal as opposed to an attack.” Iranian officials denied they had asked Trump to pull back.
47. On Monday, CNN reported that an officer in U.S. Central Command’s intelligence branch sent an email to military analysts seeking input on ideas to deal with Iran, saying, “We are looking for new creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran.”
48. On Monday, Trump posted that “without the genius, foresight, strength, and stability, of the TRUMP Administration, the Oil Industry, and our Country itself, would be DEAD!” telling oil companies to “get your consumer (retail!) Oil Prices DOWN.”
49. Trump later blasted Exxon and Chevron at an event in the Oval Office, telling reporters that the two companies were making “too much money” ​off higher fuel prices, and should “give some of that back to the public,” adding, “I don’t like it.”
50. Trump also told reporters in the Oval Office that time was running out for Iran to make a deal, saying, “This is a last chance for them to sign a good document,” and threatening, “I want to give them every last chance before decapitation.”
51. Later Monday, an Iranian official told reporters, “We currently do not have negotiations with America.” Trump called Iranian leadership “unbelievably duplicitous!” claiming, “They ask for a meeting, some would say ‘beg,’” and then said “they’re only dealing with ‘Oman.’”
52. NYT reported that hospital systems were seeing a significant increase in the number of uninsured patients, about 20% in some cases, after Trump and the GOP ended enhanced federal subsidies for the Affordable Care Act. Systems were expected to raise the costs for insured patients.
53. Reuters reported that at the global AIDS 2026 conference in Rio de Janeiro, the State Department used a map of Africa in its presentation in which every country was mislabeled. The map had an artificial intelligence watermark on it, suggesting it was made using OpenAI.
54. NYT reported a proposed rule change by the Trump regime would speed up the review of industrial projects such as oil and gas drilling, by limiting input by preservationists and the public, which has for the past 60 years protected historic sites from destruction or disturbances.
55. NYT reported according to an internal memo, the Kennedy Center planned to “temporarily pause” free public tours of the center that had taken place for five decades. The move came after a volunteer tour guide detailed the ways Trump had gutted the center to the Times.
56. Trump’s Homeland Security Dept. informed employers that temporary protected status for 350,000 Haitians had officially ended. The move was expected to result in mass layoffs at airports, nursing homes, and schools, that could disrupt summer travel and hurt several industries.
57. NYT reported that a number of legal missteps by the Trump regime’s DOJ in its case against anti-ICE protestors at a St. Paul church in January had not only hurt the government’s chances of winning, but also broken the bonds of trust that DOJ lawyers had enjoyed in court.
58. Later Friday, the U.S. Attorney for D.C. filed in court to dismiss the Reflecting Pool criminal case against former Olympian David Hearn, acknowledging that according to Interior Department documents, “the damage was the result of a botched installation and not vandalism.”
59. Jeanine Pirro’s office blamed Interior in the filing, adding, “Had [the Interior Department] been forthcoming with the information clearly in its possession, the government would not have sought a grand jury indictment,” noting there was also damage in the middle of the pool.
60. Hearn’s attorney said in a statement that the charges against him amounted to an abuse of power, and that the regime “owes Mr. Hearn an apology.” The dismissal and Trump’s public statement left an opening for them to argue the prosecution was frivolous or brought in bad faith.
61. On Saturday, Trump blasted his longtime ally, posting, “I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro,” and “I don’t know what she was thinking? To me, it was a pure case of VANDALISM,” admitting there may have been issues with the contractor, but “the major damage was caused by VANDALS!”
62. Interior Sec. Doug Burgum also pushed back on Pirro, posting on X that “The evidence is clear, vandals have repeatedly caused damage to the Reflecting Pool.”
63. Pirro’s office also dropped three other cases against people who had been charged with vandalizing the pool, each of whom had pleaded not guilty to lesser, misdemeanor charges.
64. Pirro’s reversal marked the latest misstep by DOJ prosecutors across the country, another case that was brought in haste to assuage Trump’s desire for retaliation or results, that would further damage the DOJ’s once stellar reputation with federal judges and juries.
65. On Monday, Trump told reporters that Pirro “choked because the judge was really vicious,” and “Instead of going after the people that did it, the judge went after her and went after her department,” adding, “I don’t know what the hell happened,” she “folded like an umbrella.”
66. CNN reported that Trump was “furious” with Pirro and had fumed all weekend about the court filing to request a dismissal. Trump was said to be “blind-sided” by the filing, and was considering removing her from her position.
67. On Friday, a federal judge ruled that Illinois did not need to turn over voter information to the federal government, the 18th consecutive loss for the Trump regime. The DOJ also lost cases in Michigan (19th loss) and Colorado (20th).
68. NYT reported that the Trump regime took steps to roll back federal protections for workers from extreme heat put in place during the Biden administration, including mandated breaks for access to water and shade, and curtailing workplace inspections.
69. On Saturday and Sunday, Trump sent scores of bizarre Truth Social posts, including AI images of him seated with former presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, depicting himself as a leader of the Revolutionary War, and depicting himself as a young Elvis Presley.
70. Trump also posted an AI image of him overlooking Greenland with the caption “Hello Greenland;” an image depicting Venezuela as the 51st state; a meme of him running for a third term with the caption “Trump 2028;” and an AI image of him assisting in the arrest of an alien.
71. Trump also posted an AI image of him kissing a golden statue of Jesus, a doctored image of himself that claimed he was aging in reverse, and an AI image of him sitting with himself in his military high school uniform claiming, “Same guy. Even more energy now!”
72. NYT reported that books critical of Dr. Anthony Fauci published by Department of Health and Human Services Sec. Robert Kennedy Jr., Kennedy’s son, and Rand Paul, chair of the Senate committee hearing, all saw a boom in sales after the hearing in Week 90.
73. Kennedy had also plugged his book on social media and Fox News. The boost in sales came as Republicans accused Fauci of enriching himself through public service. Experts said although ethical lines were not crossed, the three selling books appeared hypocritical.
74. NYT reported under the Trump regime, the Federal Transit Administration had yet to deploy any of the $7 billion in approved Congressional funding that was meant for big transit projects through grants.
75. Projects such as railroad tracks, train stations, and roads have not been started or have been put on hold. The regime also halted funding for projects underway in Chicago and New York City. By not awarding grants, the regime was managing federal funding in a roundabout way.
76. A federal judge reluctantly granted the DOJ’s request to dismiss the seditious conspiracy convictions of Stewart Rhodes and eight other Oath Keepers members, after Trump had already granted them clemency, finding the DOJ had the authority to do so.
77. He wrote that doing so “diminishes the gravity ​of that day, denigrates the work of the prosecutors and law enforcement officers…and excuses ‌criminal acts ⁠that caused a centuries-long pillar of our democracy — the peaceful transfer of presidential power — to buckle.”
78. Bloomberg reported Sen. Ron Wyden, the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, said in a report based on Treasury Department files that Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan, and Bank of America delayed reporting Jeffrey Epstein’s suspicious transactions for years.
79. Wyden also said he was interviewed by then-60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi for a story on U.S. banks and the Virgin Islands government relationship with Epstein, but after Alfonsi criticized Bari Weiss and was fired, the story never aired.
80. The reporting came on the same day that Paramount chief executive David Ellison claimed in an NYT op-ed titled “The Critics Are Wrong About My Politics” that politics would not play a role in CBS or in the merger involving CNN, which had been stalled by lawsuits.
81. On Tuesday, Trump sent 13 Truth Social posts over a two hour afternoon span, about his “real polling numbers;” the successful track record of his endorsements; a drone image of where his White House ballroom would go; and an AI image of a “Drone Port” on the roof.
82. On Wednesday, the Trump regime revoked the visa of the Brazilian ambassador, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti. The move came after Trump handpicked a U.S. ambassador to Brazil, without consultation, which was viewed as a snub, and he was denied a visa.
83. The Trump regime said her visa would be reinstalled if Brazil accepted his ambassador, Daniel Perez, a Republican state lawmaker in Florida. Tensions also grew after Trump tried to send so-called diplomats ahead of Brazil’s elections, reportedly to cast doubt, and was denied.
84. WSJ reported that GOP Senators were pushing back on Hegseth’s nomination of Gen. Christopher LaNeve as Army chief of staff, after Hegseth fired his popular predecessor without cause. Senators were also alarmed by Hegseth’s widespread firings of top officers.