politics
White House report card: Less than one-third of Americans are proud that Trump is president
Welcome to Friday’s edition of Washington Secrets. Today, we take our regular look at the White House week in the company of a Democratic and a Republican strategist.
TL;DR
- President Trump canceled planned strikes on Iran, citing ongoing negotiations but maintaining a strong rhetorical stance.
- A new poll indicates Trump's approval rating has dropped to 38%, with 59% disapproving, and a majority expressing shame rather than pride in his presidency.
- Trump signed executive orders targeting birthright citizenship, aiming to end 'birth tourism' and narrow qualification criteria, which are expected to face legal challenges.
- The economy showed signs of weakness, with a loss of 23,000 payroll jobs in July, partly attributed to the energy supply shock from the Iran conflict.
- Two political strategists offered contrasting assessments of Trump's week, with John Zogby giving a 'Grade F' and Jed Babbin a 'C-'.
- Concerns were raised about U.S. missile supplies and potential leaks regarding military readiness for operations against Iran.
- The article also touched upon internal White House politics, including the job security of U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and War Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- A close eye was kept on the Texas Senate race, where the lead of Republican nominee Ken Paxton over Democrat James Talarico was narrowing.