Driven by distraction? 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.
US President Donald Trump has been increasingly resorting to distractions as the US midterm elections draw near, according to analysts. The 80-year-old reality TV star has a history of changing the conversation when he doesn't like what is being said, but his recent stunts seem more targeted than ever. The Iran war is hurting his approval ratings, which are consistently in the low 30s, and has no end in sight.
The White House's strategy seems to be to push the conflict into the background, focusing on less newsy economic measures against Iran. Trump made headlines by renaming Lake Ontario as "Lake America" and proposing talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He has also been talking more about renovating the White House. Trump plans to use his $400 million political war chest to buy ads about his own record ahead of the elections.
However, he faces challenges in getting the conversation away from the Iran war and the economy, which are the main concerns for voters. The White House has also lost a senior press secretary, and Trump's own star may dim as he enters the lame-duck phase of his presidency. Despite this, Trump may still be able to stay in the spotlight by hinting about running for a third term, which is barred by the US constitution.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
