File photo: US President Donald Trump (Photo source: Associated Press)
U.S. President Donald Trump is considering a broader Cabinet reshuffle after Attorney General Pam Bondi was ousted this week, amid growing concern within the White House about the political damage caused by the war with Iran.According to Reuters, discussions within the White House have turned to whether more senior officials should be replaced as Trump becomes increasingly frustrated with rising fuel prices, falling approval ratings and growing Republican anxiety ahead of the November midterm elections.The changes are likely to come after Bondi steps down this week and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem departs earlier last month. While a final decision has not yet been made, several senior officials are said to be under review.The five-week war has created political difficulties for the administration, with gasoline prices climbing and Trump’s standing slipping, Reuters reported. Some allies believe Trump’s televised address to the nation on Wednesday – which a senior White House official said was intended to show control and confidence – “failed,” and pressure is mounting to change messaging or personnel.A White House official told Reuters, “Reshuffling to show action isn’t a bad thing, is it?”
Gabbard and Lutnick are names under surveillance
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are both potentially at risk.Trump has recently expressed dissatisfaction with Gabbard, and a person with direct knowledge of the matter said he has asked allies for their views on a possible replacement for the intelligence director, Reuters reported. Gabbard has long criticized U.S. military intervention abroad and reportedly angered the White House last June when she released a video attacking “militant elements of the political elite” ahead of Trump’s first military action against Iran.Lutnick is also facing new pressure. Some high-profile Trump allies are privately pushing for his ouster. New documents released earlier this year revealed that Lutnick had lunch with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Epstein’s private Caribbean island in 2012, the report said. Lutnick denied any serious links, saying he had “hardly any relationship” with Epstein and that the lunch only happened because he was on a boat near the island.Trump has become increasingly frustrated with Lutnick and is considering changes involving him, according to news outlet Politico. “He was very angry and he wanted to move people,” one government official said.
The labor secretary was also fired
Labor minister Lori Chavez-Dremer is also being discussed as part of possible cabinet changes.According to Politico, Trump’s review is focused on officials he believes are “performing poorly or attracting too much negative attention.” The report said no final decision had been made on Chavez-Dremer or Lutnick, noting that Trump had previously considered firing aides before backing down.Removing Lutnick could allow Trump to signal economic responsibility, which one administration official said would help the president “be able to say ‘I’m making changes to the economy.'”Chavez-Dreimer is also facing increased pressure due to an investigation by the Labor Department’s inspector general. The investigation included allegations that she drank alcohol on the job, had an affair with a security guard and that staff may have used official events to facilitate personal travel. Chavez-Dremer has denied wrongdoing and the White House has previously defended her.
White House publicly supports key officials
Despite such speculation, the White House has publicly defended several officials named in media reports.White House spokesman Davis Ingle said Trump maintains “full confidence” in Gabbard and Lutnick. “The president has assembled the most talented and influential Cabinet in history, and together they have delivered historic victories on behalf of the American people, from Director Gabbard’s role in ending Maduro’s regime of drug terror to Secretary Lutnick’s role in securing major trade and investment deals,” Ingle said in an emailed statement cited by Reuters.“A spokesman for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence also noted that a White House X post quoted Communications Director Steve Cheung as saying Trump had “full confidence” in Gabbard.White House spokesman Tyler Rogers said Chavez-Dremer and Lutnick “have both done an outstanding job for American workers, and they continue to have President Trump’s full support.”Another White House official told Politico on Lutnick’s behalf that “everyone is excited about the job Howard is doing — on trade deals, on drugs, on Japan, on tariffs, etc. … He’s taken a tough stance on Canada from day one, and the president of the United States appreciates that.”
Speech on Iran in West Wing seen as blunder
Trump’s speech Wednesday night was intended to reassure voters after weeks of aides urging him to address the nation directly about the U.S. role in Iran.But the speech failed to deliver the political reset some in the White House had hoped for. Trump offered no clear path to ending the war that began on February 28, instead leaving the impression that the conflict could continue indefinitely. Without directly addressing economic concerns, he said the pain would be temporary and blamed Tehran.“The speech fell short of expectations,” a White House official told Reuters, adding that while Trump’s core supporters still support his war, they are also feeling the economic pressure.“Voters tolerate ideological messages, but they feel it right away in fuel prices,” the official said.
Polls and midterm elections add urgency
The political context appears to be driving the internal debate.In the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, only 36% of Americans approved of Trump’s overall job performance, the lowest rating of his term. The report also stated that 60% of the respondents disapproved of the United States and Israel’s decision to go to war with Iran.Any broader cabinet reshuffle would be aimed at helping Republicans protect their control of Washington in November. Some around Trump believe now is the right time to make changes, especially amid concerns that Senate confirmation could become more difficult next year if Democrats make gains in the midterm elections.A person close to the White House told Politico that Trump is also considering how difficult it would be to confirm future executive appointments if Democrats improve their position after the election.A senior White House source said Trump wants to make major changes immediately before the midterm elections.
Trump may choose limited changes over sweeping reforms
Trump may ultimately decide not to pursue an overhaul.Several people close to the president said he remains wary of a return to the sense of chaos of his first term, when constant personnel changes frequently made headlines. One White House official described the possible approach as “targeted attrition” rather than a “massive, dramatic reset.”Still, some aides believe taking no action now could be as dangerous as taking high-profile action.One White House official summed up the sentiment bluntly, telling Reuters: “Based on what I’m hearing, it’s fair to say that Bundy is not the last.”Meanwhile, discussions have touched on who could fill the vacuum left by Bundy.Politico reported that Trump met with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin on Tuesday to discuss last year’s California wildfires and the possibility of Zeldin taking over from Bondi’s predecessor, Politico reported, citing a person familiar with the situation at the White House.However, Trump has now appointed Todd Branch as acting attorney general, with one administration official describing Branch as a “lead horse.”
