With three weeks until midterms, and Trump’s approval at an all time low amid rising inflation, plunging consumer confidence, and an endless unpopular war with Iran, Trump offered a new giveaway in his effort to buy votes. At a rally in Alaska, Trump started awarding pardons on stage, while continuing to promise $5,000 checks if Republicans held the House and Senate, all while his regime sent $90 and $500 checks to millions of Americans. Trump spent much of the week jet-setting to rallies, many in states that had not gone for Democrats in decades, only to find empty seats and, at times, empty sections in venues smaller than those he filled in 2024 — a testament of how out of touch he has become with the electorate.
In his desperation to staunch the spike in diesel prices, Trump inexplicably agreed to buy energy from Russia, giving Russian President Vladimir Putin not only billions to spend on the war, but also an upper hand in what had become a stalemate. Trump also pulled back other support, and chastised Ukraine. Bipartisan Senators objected, but with Congress out of session until after midterms, their pushback was toothless, once again abdicating power to Trump.
This week, Trump remained focused on targeting his perceived enemies and his petty grievances, targeting Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, and former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson. Corruption continued to run rampant among Trump, his family, and his regime, with backroom deals being made and investigations dropped. Kimberly Guilfoyle was the sacrificial lamb this week, forced to resign as U.S. Ambassador to Greece. Notably, Guilfoyle’s resignation, amid reports of far worse among Trump’s family and his regime, marked the fifth major firing of a high profile woman in Trump’s orbit, while the men played through.
Some other of the autocratic acts this week were especially alarming. Defense Department Secretary Pete Hegseth promised to livestream a firing squad execution. Trump continued to use taxpayer money to broadcast propaganda ads. Trump spent days stewing about not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump’s regime continued to thumb their noses at federal judges, including in their targeting of media outlets, and more. An alarming week with three weeks until the election.
