Not Winning

Watch, because those who believe themselves to be cornered can be the most dangerous.

Note to my future self.

This is not winning. The president built his reputation on being perceived as a winner. Recent facts do not paint that picture.

Just look.

Iran. He started a war of choice seven weeks ago. Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz for the first time in modern history, a move completely predictable and threatened for decades. Even so the president pushed for a deal, announced a ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait as if this was something he delivered. Today the Strait is closed again in response to the US blockade. Meanwhile oil remains high, former allies refuse to help, and the president claims military victory without seemingly understanding asymmetric warfare.

Redistricting. He ordered Texas to carve out five new Republican seats in a highly unusual off-cycle gerrymander. Predictably, California voters approved a new map with five new Democratic seats and Virginia is moving to do the same. This was a race he started and has put the very thin House majority for his party in jeopardy.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope. Publicly rebuking Donald Trump’s war, causing Trump to attack the Pope on social media. Catholic bishops are now attacking the attack on the Pope. When the Pope says your talk is “truly unacceptable,” that is not winning.

When one’s approval is at 35%, one’s economic approval is at 31%, when two-thirds of Americans say one’s policies have made the economy worse – one is not winning.

Watch, because those who believe themselves to be cornered can be the most dangerous.