The Wall Street Journal editorial board has issued a scathing critique of Donald Trump, stating that he has “lost the governing plot.” This marks the latest in a series of sharply critical op-eds targeting the president.
Warning for the GOP
The board warned that Trump’s presidency “will be all but over ― except for impeachment 3.0 ― if the GOP loses control of Congress in November.” The piece highlights growing concerns among Republicans that Trump’s personal obsessions are damaging his second term.
Self-Indulgent Behavior
The Rupert Murdoch-owned publication described Trump’s recent actions as “self-indulgent even by his standards.” It pointed to his “fixation” on building a White House ballroom, which involved the controversial razing of the East Wing, as well as his habit of slapping his name “on everything” and plans for “monuments to French-like grandeur.”
Many Republicans privately admit that Trump’s “personal political obsessions are hurting his Presidency,” raising fears that this could backfire in the upcoming 2026 midterms and cost the GOP control of both the House and the Senate.
Need for a Reset
Trump’s polling numbers continue to sink. The editorial board concluded that he “needs a second-year reset, or he is headed toward a second-term failure.”
