Trump's grip weakens as courts, polls and party turn against him
Twenty months into his second term, US President Donald Trump's authority is showing cracks as courts rule against him, approval ratings hit historic lows, and some Republicans distance themselves ahead of the midterms. Analysts warn that as his real power fades, Trump may become more unpredictable.
President Donald Trump told the United Nations on Tuesday that the US would "annihilate" Iran if necessary, projecting strength abroad even as his authority at home shows signs of erosion. On his way into the UN building, he sharply criticized a CNN reporter for covering him, a pointed reminder of his earlier attempt to ban the network from the White House — an attempt a court later overturned.
Setbacks in courts and institutions
Over the past month, the Federal Reserve declined to bow to Trump's pressure on interest rates, the Supreme Court blocked an administration effort to restrict mail-in voting ahead of the November midterms, and separate judges ordered three news outlets reinstated at the White House and blocked Trump from adding his name to the Kennedy Center.
Falling approval and party cracks
Polling shows Trump's approval at historic lows, driven by persistent inflation, rising fuel costs, and growing dissatisfaction with the war in Iran. Cracks are also appearing within his own party: Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds has removed most references to Trump from his campaign website, while Representative María Elvira Salazar has publicly stated that federal immigration enforcement has gone "too far."
A White House spokesperson rejected such characterizations, crediting Trump with major tax cuts, lower prescription drug prices, tighter border security, and job growth.
What comes next
Analysts caution that as Trump's real influence diminishes, he may lash out more forcefully at the press and political opponents. Historians describe the pattern as the "second-term curse," noting that past presidents have faced similar struggles in their final years in office. Should Democrats win control of the House of Representatives next year, they plan to launch investigations into alleged abuses of power.
