Author：Wall Street CN
As the political costs of the Iran war continue to accumulate, the Trump administration is facing its most severe internal stress test since taking office, and a new cabinet shake-up is brewing.
According to media reports on the 5th, citing five sources familiar with the matter,Trump is considering a broader cabinet reshuffle after dismissing Attorney General Bundy this week.Media outlets, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that Director of National Intelligence Gabbard and Commerce Secretary Lutnick are both at risk of losing their jobs. The White House spokesperson subsequently stated publicly that Trump maintains "complete trust" in both men.
The immediate trigger for this reorganization discussion was Trump's national televised address on April 1.Several White House officials privately felt the speech was "ineffective"—it failed to offer an outlet for the war or address voters' economic anxieties.A recent Reuters poll shows that Trump's overall approval rating has fallen to 36%, the lowest in his term, and 60% of respondents oppose the war launched by the US and Israel.
The speech fell short of expectations, and discussions on a cabinet reshuffle suddenly intensified.
According to reports, Trump, along with his speechwriting team and key advisors, prepared his prime-time speech on Wednesday. His aides had repeatedly urged him to address the nation directly on the US role in the war with Iran. However, the speech disappointed the White House.
"The speech did not achieve the desired effect," a White House official said.In his speech, Trump offered no way out of the war that began on February 28 and has lasted for five weeks, nor did he address voters' economic concerns directly, only calling the pain "temporary."And they blamed Tehran.
A senior White House official described the speech as an attempt to "demonstrate a sense of control and confidence in the course of the war," but it backfired, further reinforcing the outside world's judgment that the White House needs to adjust its information strategy or personnel arrangements. "Wouldn't it be better to take action and reorganize?" another White House official said.
According to media reports citing sources familiar with the matter, Trump is extremely dissatisfied with media coverage of the war with Iran and has made it clear to his team that he wants more positive coverage, but he has not indicated any intention to adjust his public relations strategy.
Gabbard and Lutnick are under pressure, and the White House denies rumors of their resignation.
According to reports, following the resignations of Bondi and Homeland Security Minister Kristi Noem,Gabbard and Lutnik have been named by several sources as potential next batch of departing employees.
Regarding Gabbard, a senior White House official revealed that Trump has expressed his dissatisfaction with her on multiple occasions in recent months; another source with direct knowledge of the matter said that Trump has consulted allies on potential successors. It is worth noting that Gabbard is a well-known figure who has long opposed U.S. military intervention overseas. Last June, she released a video criticizing "warmongers among the political elite," just before Trump launched the first round of military action against Iran, a move that deeply displeased the White House.
As for Lutnick, several of Trump's external allies are privately pushing for his removal, partly due to the continued exposure of his relationship with Epstein. Documents released earlier this year show that Lutnick had lunch with Epstein on his private island in the Caribbean in 2012. Lutnick himself responded that he had "virtually no contact" with Epstein, and that the lunch was only because he was passing by on a boat at the time. In fact, it has been reported that some of Trump's allies had already been pushing for Lutnick's removal as early as April of last year, after the chaotic global tariff policy was announced.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement that Trump maintains his "full trust" in Gabbard and Lutnick, and said they "jointly achieved a historic victory for the American people."
"Bondy won't be the last," the timing of the reorganization may be decided before the midterm elections.
Despite public denials from the White House, media outlets, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter, reported that the seriousness of reshuffling discussions has noticeably increased in recent weeks. A senior White House source stated that Trump hopes to complete major personnel changes within the window of time remaining before the November midterm elections. "To put it simply, from what I've heard, Bundy won't be the last," another White House official said.
However, Trump may ultimately choose to remain on hold.Multiple sources familiar with the matter indicated that, given the frequent personnel changes during his first term that dominated public opinion and created the impression of chaos in the White House, Trump has clear concerns about overly frequent cabinet reshuffles. One White House official stated that the anticipated adjustments will be "targeted replacements" rather than a "massive, dramatic reshuffle."
However, some argue that remaining inactive at this juncture also carries political risks. Data shows that the Iran war has driven up oil prices, dragged down Trump's approval ratings, and exacerbated Republican anxieties on the road to the midterm elections. "Voters can tolerate ideological rhetoric, but rising oil prices are a tangible, immediate benefit for them," said a White House official.
