Trump steps up stunts as US midterms loom
From trolling Canada about a lake to suddenly talking about Kim Jong-un, US President Donald Trump’s recent distractions speak louder than words. The former reality television star has long been known for his reliance upon a simple tactic: when you don’t like what’s being said, change the conversation. But the 80-year-old’s recent stunts appear to be even more targeted than usual at wrestling the…
As the U.S. midterm elections approach, President Donald Trump is employing increasingly targeted distractions to shift public focus away from the Iran war and economic concerns. Former reality TV star Donald Trump has a history of changing the conversation when he disagrees with public opinion. However, his recent stunts seem more strategically aimed at preventing voters from focusing on his administration's challenges.
According to William Galston of the Brookings Institution, Trump specializes in distractions. The ongoing Iran war, which has been dragging down Trump's approval ratings, has no resolution in sight as it enters its sixth month. The White House's strategy appears to be to push the conflict into the background while focusing on less newsworthy economic measures against Iran.
On Thursday, Trump held an Oval Office press conference to announce the renaming of Lake Ontario to "Lake America." This move came after a trade war with Canada, reinforcing the "America First" narrative aimed at his base. Democrats criticized the move as a "juvenile" attempt to distract from the real issues affecting working families.
Just a week prior, Trump brought up the possibility of talks with North Korea's Kim Jong-un, despite having barely mentioned the subject since his January 2025 inauguration. Trump praised Kim, whom he met three times during his first term, while criticizing South Korea and reducing joint military drills with Seoul. He has also been unusually vocal about renovating the White House, though Democrats argue that this appearance of being out of touch.
Despite the distractions, Trump remains focused on securing Republican victories in the midterms. He believes he is essential to delivering results for the GOP and even suggested voters "pretend I'm on the ballot." As a precaution, Trump is planning to spend $400 million on television ads highlighting his own record, emphasizing recent wins such as suppressing mail-in ballots and increasing deportations.
However, Trump faces significant challenges in steering the conversation. The Iran war remains a quagmire for a president who vowed not to engage in more foreign conflicts. If oil prices and the cost of living continue to rise, the economy will likely remain the primary concern for voters. The White House has lost a key spokesperson, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who stepped down to spend more time with her children.
Trump's star may also diminish as he enters the lame-duck phase of his presidency after the midterms. Nevertheless, he can maintain his visibility by creating suspense around his potential 2028 presidential endorsement and by hinting at a third term, which would be unconstitutional but has proven risky to bet against.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
