As President Trump navigates a challenging political landscape, he faces criticism for managing an unpopular military conflict while attempting to reverse his campaign promises on entitlements.
AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:
President Trump recently celebrated the rescue of an Air Force colonel, marking a stark contrast to a previous post in which he warned, “make a deal or open up the Hormuz Strait. Time is running out. Forty-eight hours before all hell will rain down.” NPR national political correspondent Mara Liasson is here to provide more insight. Good morning, Mara.
MARA LIASSON, BYLINE: Good morning.
RASCOE: Israel claims it paused airstrikes to allow the U.S. to retrieve the colonel, yet airstrikes in Iran continue, particularly at a significant petrochemical center, and the strait remains obstructed. The war’s end doesn’t seem imminent.
LIASSON: Indeed, it doesn’t. President Trump’s earlier address, attempting to convince Americans of an impending conclusion to the war, included conflicting statements. He vowed to bomb Iran “back to the Stone Age,” juxtaposing his previous assertion that the Hormuz Strait was unnecessary for the U.S. and should be opened by Europeans or naturally post-war.
The war’s unpopularity is evident, with 60% of Americans opposed. Financial markets, a metric Trump values, were unswayed by his address. A pressing issue remains: can Trump disengage from Iran if the Strait of Hormuz stays under Iranian control? Leaving it open through military or diplomatic means presents significant challenges.
RASCOE: Polls illustrate the Iran war’s unpopularity, yet the White House’s new budget proposal reveals its priorities. What does this indicate?
LIASSON: The budget highlights the president’s priorities, proposing a $1.5 trillion boost to Defense spending, a 42% increase, while slashing nondefense spending by 10%, affecting healthcare. In a White House video, Trump stated:
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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: “It’s not possible for us to take care of day care. Medicaid, Medicare, all these individual things – they can do it on a state basis. You can’t do it on a federal. We have to take care of one thing – military protection.”
LIASSON: Medicare’s federal nature contradicts the president’s statement. This stance mirrors his Iran strategy, diverging sharply from his campaign promises of avoiding foreign wars and preserving Social Security and Medicare. Despite Congress likely rejecting this budget, it sets the stage for midterm debates.
RASCOE: With the recent dismissal of the attorney general, might more cabinet changes follow?
LIASSON: It’s possible. President Trump dismissed Pam Bondi from the Department of Justice, following Kristi Noem’s removal from Homeland Security. Despite Bondi’s loyalty, her failure to prosecute Trump’s political adversaries left the president vulnerable. With approval ratings dropping into the 30s, an unpopular war, high gas prices, and looming midterms, more dismissals could ease the confirmation of new nominees before a potential shift in congressional control.
RASCOE: Trump attended Supreme Court arguments this week. Is the White House’s relationship with the Court evolving?
LIASSON: Trump’s faced setbacks, like the tariff case, and skepticism over his birthright citizenship arguments. He risks another defeat but could seek congressional support to legislate his citizenship vision.
RASCOE: Thank you, Mara.
LIASSON: You’re welcome.
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