File photo: US President Donald Trump (Photo credit: AP)
US President Donald Trump is considering a sweeping Cabinet reshuffle after firing Attorney General Pam Bondi this week amid growing concern inside the White House over the political fallout from a war with Iran.According to news agency Reuters, internal White House discussions have turned to whether more senior officials should be replaced as Trump grows frustrated with rising fuel prices, falling approval ratings and growing Republican anxiety ahead of the November midterm elections.The potential change follows Bondi’s ouster this week and the departure of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem last month. Although no final decision has been taken, several senior officials are said to be under investigation.According to Reuters, the five-week-old war has created a politically difficult situation for the administration, with gas prices rising and Trump’s position slipping. The report said some aides felt Trump’s televised address to the nation on Wednesday, which a senior White House official described as an effort to show control and confidence, “failed,” increasing pressure for changes in messaging or personnel.A White House official told Reuters, “A change to show action is not a bad thing, right?”
Gabbard and Lutnick are among the names being monitored
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are among those potentially at risk.According to Reuters, Trump has recently expressed displeasure with Gabbard, and a source with direct knowledge said he had asked aides for ideas on a possible replacement for his intelligence chief. Gabbard, who has long criticized US military intervention abroad, reportedly upset the White House last June when she released a video attacking “political elite war supporters” ahead of Trump’s first military action against Iran.Lutnik is also facing renewed pressure. Some of Trump’s high-profile allies are privately pushing for his removal. New files released earlier this year show that Lutnick had lunch with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Epstein’s private Caribbean island in 2012, the report said. Lutnick has denied any serious affair, saying he “barely had anything to do” with Epstein and that the lunch occurred only because he was on a boat near the island.According to news outlet Politico, Trump has become frustrated with Lutnick and is considering changes involving him. “He’s very angry and he’s going to fire people,” an administration official said.
Labor Secretary also under threat of dismissal
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is also being discussed as part of potential Cabinet changes.According to Politico, Trump’s review focuses on officials whom he believes have “performed poorly or who have attracted too much negative attention”. The report said no final decision has been made on Chávez-DeRemer or Lutnick, and added that Trump had considered firing his aides before withdrawing.Removing Lutnick could signal economic accountability to Trump, with one administration official suggesting it would help the president “say, ‘I’m turning the economy around.'”Chávez-DeRemar is also under additional pressure due to the inspector general investigation into the Labor Department. The investigation included allegations that she drank alcohol on the job, had an affair with a security officer and that staffers may have used official programs to help facilitate private travel. Chávez-Deremer has denied wrongdoing and the White House has previously defended him.
The White House publicly stands behind key officials
Despite the speculation, the White House has publicly defended several of the officials named in media reports.White House spokesman Davis Ingle said Trump retained “full confidence” in Gabbard and Lutnick. In an email statement quoted by Reuters, Ingle said, “The President has assembled the most talented and influential Cabinet ever, and they have collectively achieved historic victories on behalf of the American people, from Director Gabbard’s role in ending the Maduro narco-terror regime to Secretary Lutnick’s role in securing major trade and investment deals.“A spokesperson for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence also pointed to the White House Ex Post, which quoted Communications Director Steve Cheung as saying that Trump has “complete confidence” in Gabbard.White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said that Chavez-DeRemer and Lutnick “are both doing a great job standing up for American workers, and they have the full support of President Trump.”Speaking to POLITICO on Lutnick’s behalf, a separate White House official said, “Everyone is thrilled with the job Howard has done — on trade deals, pharmaceuticals, Japan, tariffs, all of that… He’s also taken a tough stance on Canada from day one, which POTUS appreciates.”
Speech on Iran seen as a misstep inside the West Wing
Trump’s speech Wednesday night was aimed at reassuring voters, after his aides had for weeks urged him to directly address the nation on the U.S. role in Iran.But the speech failed to provide the political reset that some in the White House had hoped for. Trump offered no clear path out of the war that began on February 28 and instead left the impression that the conflict could continue indefinitely. Instead of directly addressing economic concerns, he said the pain would be temporary and blamed Tehran.“The speech did not achieve what it was supposed to,” a White House official told Reuters. He said that although Trump’s core supporters are still supporting him on the war, they are also feeling economic pressure.The same official said: “Voters tolerate the ideological message, but they feel the fuel prices immediately.”
Voting and midterms increase urgency
The political background appears to be driving the internal debate.Only 36% of Americans approve of Trump’s overall job performance in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, the lowest rating of his current term. It also said that 60% of respondents disapproved of the US-Israeli decision to start a war with Iran.Any broad Cabinet reset would be aimed at helping Republicans maintain their hold on Washington in November. Some of Trump’s supporters believe now is the best time to make changes, especially with concerns that Senate confirmation next year could be more difficult if Democrats make gains in the midterms.A person close to the White House told POLITICO that Trump is also considering the difficulty of confirming future executive appointees if Democrats improve their standing after the election.A senior White House source said that Trump now wants to make some major changes before the midterms.
Trump may choose limited changes, not dramatic changes
Trump may ultimately decide against sweeping changes.Several people close to the president said he is wary of recreating the sense of chaos that occurred during his first term, when frequent staffing changes often made headlines. A White House official described the potential approach as “targeted churn” rather than a “big, dramatic reset.”Still, some aides believe doing nothing now could be just as risky as taking any high-profile move.A White House official expressed the mood bluntly, telling Reuters: “Based on what I’ve heard, don’t assume Bondi is the last.”Meanwhile, discussions have already taken place as to who might fill the void left by Bondi.Trump met with Environmental Protection Agency head Lee Zeldin on Tuesday to discuss last year’s California wildfires and the possibility of Zeldin stepping into Bondi’s former role, Politico reported, citing a person close to the White House familiar with the conversations.However, Trump has currently nominated Todd Blanche as acting attorney general, with an administration official describing Blanche as “the main horse.”