The first part of President Donald Trump's second term was marked by a number of events that shook the United States and the world, from the resumption of strikes on Iran to the election challenges and the response to the investigations conducted by the Democrats. It is not unlikely that Trump's strategy in the period after these midterm elections includes causing unrest at all levels.
Analysts warn that Trump, in the "lame duck" phase of his presidency, may be more vindictive than ever before. “I doubt that President Trump will quietly withdraw from the scene,” said Peter Logue, director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University. He explained, "There is no indication in history that he would say, 'I am defeated, my time is up.' Every time Trump was backed into a corner, he raised his voice more and came out more aggressive."
Veto and revenge - one of Trump's characteristics!
Trump has always considered himself a fighter, and he has made clear that he will adopt the same approach if the Democrats win one or both chambers of Congress. "I think we'll do great, but if we don't win, I'll veto everything," he told a New York Post podcast. "And then they'll come to us, and we'll probably make deals." The White House says it is also prepared for any investigations or impeachment measures that Democrats may bring against him.
"They'll probably come after me, and I'll come after them," Trump said in an interview with Time magazine. Trump may also direct the Department of Justice to investigate the Democrats who are investigating him. Also, Trump, who challenged his loss in the 2020 presidential election without any basis, may interfere in the midterm elections as well, by objecting to the counting of ballots or delaying the certification of the results of disputed electoral races.
The maze of war against Iran
Foreign policy is the only area in which late-term US presidents still have broad powers. Trump may resume large-scale military operations against Iran, although he appeared to indicate on the eve of the midterm elections that new talks might lead to an agreement with Tehran. "I don't think he wants to be remembered in his legacy as a warmonger. He wants to leave behind a stronger America," Ryan Haass of the Brookings Institution told AFP. Speculation has been raised that Trump may fire Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as the war with Iran continues, a familiar move from a president who does not like to take responsibility for failures.
Ukraine war and settlement with Russia
Trump likes to be seen as an expert at concluding peace deals and will likely continue to pressure Ukraine to agree to a settlement with Russia. A new round of trilateral talks (between the United States, Russia and Ukraine) is scheduled for next week. At the same time, Trump will continue to seek a breakthrough in relations with two presidents whom he sees as his great power rivals, the Chinese Xi Jinping and the Russian Vladimir Putin.
The three are likely to meet at a summit to be held in China later this month. Haass believed that it is also likely that the United States will continue to reduce its engagement with some of its NATO allies and other Western allies, and that it may even work to accelerate this process. As for trade, Trump is likely to remain “relentlessly active,” as evidenced by his recent hostility toward Canada, according to Haass.
In the spotlight and the center of attention
Trump likes to be in the spotlight and is unlikely to like the shift in attention to potential successors in the 2028 US presidential election. Trump has taken an increasingly ambiguous stance on whether to support either Vice President Jay DeVance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the job. But Trump has largely stopped hinting at the possibility of running for a third term, which is prohibited by the Constitution.
Restoration and repairs
Like other people preparing for retirement, Trump may choose to focus on restoration projects and repairs. In his closing midterm election speech, Trump barely talked politics and instead touched on renovating the “reflecting pool” adjacent to the Lincoln Memorial and other plans to beautify Washington. Trump openly expressed his desire to leave his own mark on Washington, fearing that others would not do so. "We have a lot of great things planned for Washington," he said at the reflection pool.
