Analysis: Trump fumes as top allies back down on his personal battles

What the report says

BBC World News reports that Donald Trump has faced several setbacks in a few days, including disputes involving a Washington memorial, the status of his ally Jeanine Pirro’s prosecution decision, a Senate fight over Todd Blanche’s nomination, and the shifting politics around his effort to end the war with Iran. The article says the president, who often publicly rejects unwelcome facts, has run into resistance not just from opponents but from some of his own loyalists.

One focus was the case involving the Reflecting Pool near the Washington Monument. US attorney Jeanine Pirro, a longtime Trump supporter, moved to drop felony damage charges against a former Olympian after her office concluded the harm came from faulty installation work rather than vandalism. Trump criticized her decision anyway, while Pirro said prosecutors had been given misleading information by the Department of Interior.

The piece also describes pressure on Todd Blanche, Trump’s former criminal defense lawyer and pick for attorney general. Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis joined Democrats in blocking his confirmation unless he formally distanced himself from a proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund for people who say they were unfairly prosecuted by the government. Blanche eventually provided letters that eased those concerns.

The broader context, according to the BBC analysis, is that Trump is also facing public concern over the Iran war and his approval ratings, which several recent polls put at historically weak levels. The story suggests these problems could matter for Republicans heading toward congressional midterm elections later this year.