Trump Intensifies Fight with Media, Rivals Ahead of Midterms
President faces scrutiny over $5,000 payment proposal, disaster aid remarks and growing clashes with US media
WASHINGTON: (Web Desk) President Donald Trump has stepped up his attacks on political opponents, the media and other US institutions in recent days, as Republicans prepare for November’s midterm elections and face a series of political challenges.
Trump has combined campaign promises, threats and confrontational statements in an increasingly aggressive effort to rally Republican voters, including a pledge to give every American adult a $5,000 payment if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate.
Trump unveiled what he called a “Trump dividend” at a Republican midterm convention in Dallas earlier this month. The proposal would require congressional approval and could cost more than $1 trillion, according to estimates cited by US media.
The president has also drawn criticism after telling supporters in North Carolina that additional federal disaster aid could depend on the electoral success of Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley. Trump later said he was joking, but the remarks drew renewed scrutiny over the use of federal resources in politically contested states.
Trump’s comments come as polling has raised questions about public perceptions of his leadership and decision-making. Surveys cited in recent coverage have found substantial shares of Americans expressing concerns about his temperament and approach to major policy decisions.
The president has also continued to make unsubstantiated claims about the 2024 assassination attempt against him in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump recently described the shooting as a “Democrat plot” aimed at removing him from the presidential race, without providing evidence.
There is no public evidence that Democrats were involved in the attack. The suspected gunman, Thomas Crooks, was a registered Republican, while FBI Director Kash Patel has said investigators found no evidence that Crooks was communicating with anyone other than his parents.
Trump has separately threatened broad restrictions on US foreign trade if the Federal Reserve does not lower interest rates. He has argued that ending trade with countries with which the United States runs trade deficits could generate significant revenue, although economists have disputed the premise and warned that such measures could have wider economic consequences.
The president’s confrontation with the US media has also intensified.
On Friday, Trump announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from the White House, accusing the organizations of publishing what he called “fake news.” The White House followed through on the announcement Saturday, denying access to journalists from all three organizations and confiscating or disabling their press credentials.
The affected news organizations have indicated they could challenge the restrictions, citing First Amendment protections for freedom of the press. The move represents another escalation in Trump’s longstanding conflict with media organizations that have criticized his administration.
Trump has also criticized Supreme Court justices whom he nominated, saying some were no longer the people he believed he had selected. His remarks have highlighted tensions between the president and members of the court appointed during his first administration.
In another recent statement, Trump dismissed concerns about artificial intelligence safety, while his administration and lawmakers continue to debate regulation of the rapidly developing technology.
Trump has also sought to have his name added to the Kennedy Center in Washington, where he has asserted greater control over the institution. The effort has raised legal and institutional questions, while Trump has suggested the center could suffer if he is prevented from carrying out his plans.
The series of confrontations comes at a critical point in the US political calendar. Midterm elections are scheduled for November, with control of the House of Representatives and Senate at stake.
Trump has made his presidency and personal political brand central to the Republican campaign, while Democrats have sought to make the election a referendum on the administration’s record on the economy, foreign policy, government spending and the president’s use of executive power.
With the election approaching, Trump’s increasingly combative public statements and clashes with political institutions and media organizations are likely to remain prominent features of the US political debate.
Source & Courtesy: CNN
