During his first term, President Trump, while unorthodox, was moderated by the prospect of re-election, leading him to govern with a degree of restraint. However, with no chance for a third term, that restraint has disappeared.
In April 2025, he implemented the highest average tariff rate since 1903. Subsequently, he initiated an aggressive war in Iran that not only drove up gas prices but also left Republicans in disarray, jeopardizing their chances in the upcoming elections.
He has alienated allies, made threatening comments about Greenland, and conducted heavy-handed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that transformed what was once his strongest issue into a liability.
Donald Trump is not foolish; he recognizes these consequences, but his eyes are on a different prize.