Chaos, Confusion and Reversals: the Story of Trump's Second Term

By Evans Momodu
Published 18:59

 

Since taking office again, Trump has relied heavily on executive authority, signing a barrage of orders and reshuffling personnel in what aides describe as an effort to "seize the moment." However, the haste has also brought logistical bottlenecks, legal challenges, and fractures within his economic team, especially among those urging caution on tariffs that risk sparking retaliatory measures and inflation.

According to sources familiar with internal deliberations, any sign of hesitation — such as advising a slower rollout of tariffs — has been met with swift dismissal. "He’s not looking for debate. He wants execution," one adviser said.

Trump’s new round of tariffs, particularly those targeting China, have already begun to reshape global supply chains. But they also threaten to stoke a cost-of-living crisis in the U.S., according to Wall Street analysts. The administration appears to be betting that any short-term pain will be offset by domestic political gain and leverage in future trade negotiations.

In private, GOP lawmakers are split. Some are concerned about the impact on consumers and American businesses, particularly in the agricultural and tech sectors. Others are rallying behind Trump’s combative posture, framing it as a necessary correction to decades of trade imbalances.

The unspoken fear in the White House is that 2026 midterm elections could flip Congress, slamming the brakes on Trump’s second-term agenda. That urgency is translating into governance by blitz, a strategy that maximises impact now, even if it means reversals or cleanups later.

As one former official put it bluntly: “Trump is not planning for year four — he’s planning for month four.”
Source:  NBC News