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Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Weigh in on Sydney Sweeney or run the world? Trump attempts it all
From firing people to promoting jeans, calling for peace deals or the renaming of a sports team, President Donald Trump keeps a lot on his proverbial to-do list. Much of it is unrelated to running the country. More than six months into his second term as US commander-in-chief, Trump, a former New York businessman and reality television host, has applied a hands-on management style and producer-like attitude toward governing, relying largely on his own instincts for decisions large and small. Using the tools of social media and a propensity for bullying, Trump personally wades into issues inside and outside the federal government to get his way. He harangues company executives to invest in America and uses trade deals as leverage over foreign leaders to end conflicts. Last week he fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics over unproven allegations she falsified figures that he didn't like. This week he called for the head of Intel to step down over ties with China, and the company's stock fell. In recent months he has pressed the Washington Commanders football team to change its name back to the Redskins, forced universities to pay huge amounts to the federal government, boosted retailer American Eagle Outfitters' shares with a compliment about a controversial jeans commercial featuring actor Sydney Sweeney and attempted to shore up Republican power by pushing for political redistricting in Texas. Trump's style, which can confound both his friends and his foes, is dramatically different from his more traditional predecessors. It has earned him condemnation for being caustic and praise for being effective at getting what he wants. 'While he delves into topics that are certainly distractions relative to the big business of leading the world's greatest nation, it can also be said that past presidents have excessively deferred to the bureaucracy and failed to deliver the change their voters expected,' said Carlos Curbelo, a Republican former congressman from Florida. 'Trump views himself more as the CEO of the USA. than as president,' Curbelo added. 'It's good for decision making and challenging for the constitutional order which made our country the world's greatest economic and military force.' Trump has taken on academia, the legal world, media companies, athletics, the federal bureaucracy and more, all while retooling the world economy with tariffs, cracking down on immigration flows, upending relations with allies and putting his stamp on American culture. Though he has a team of advisers, the president frequently follows his own counsel, making policy decisions and then announcing them himself, ramifications aside. 'I think what a lot of people miss about Trump is he's the marketer-in-chief,' said Ford O'Connell, a Republican strategist with ties to the White House. 'Not only is he his own best press secretary, he's also his own best chief-of-staff.' A POTUS who 'can't focus' Critics question why Trump gets bogged down in issues that are secondary to his goals of strengthening the US economy, for example, or achieving a peace deal between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 'He's commenting one moment on ... Putin and tariffs and all that's happening in the world and the next moment he's talking about, oh, Sydney Sweeney, and all these other issues that are completely unrelated to being president of the United States,' said Charlie Dent, a Republican former congressman from Pennsylvania. 'He simply can't focus.' The White House said Trump is using his skills to deliver on policy priorities. 'President Trump's leadership style can be summed up plainly as decisive and commanding,' said White House spokesman Harrison Fields. Trump also employs a talent to distract when facing difficulty. Though that super power has largely eluded him with the controversy over sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein and the Department of Justice's refusal to release files related to the disgraced financier's case, Trump's broad ability to change the subject and dominate the news cycle has stupefied his opponents for years. 'His leadership style is much closer to that of an executive producer, and the executive producer who has a really big picture understanding of the audience,' said Republican strategist Kevin Madden, a senior adviser to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns. 'I think he trusts his instincts about the audience over anybody else, and that's why you see him oftentimes, you know, managing his own policy portfolio.' Trump, though not a stickler for detail on all things policy-related, does get into the weeds on things he cares about, both cultural and political, including redecorating the Oval Office with gold, paving over the Rose Garden and building a new ballroom on the White House grounds. On Tuesday, reporters bantered with the president while he walked on the roof of the White House press room, surveying the grounds for what he said were more ways to spend his money. The White House said Trump and other donors plan to pay for the $200 million ballroom project, which is slated to be finished before his second term concludes. 'I think narcissists do get bogged down in details because they think that everything is a reflection of them,' said Republican strategist Rina Shah. 'When he decides to focus on the minutia, he's forgetting about the bigger picture. And that's kind of a disservice to the office.' Where critics see such disservice, the White House sees results. On the eve of presiding over a US-brokered peace framework between Azerbaijan and Armenia this week, Trump took to social media to tout his involvement: 'Many Leaders have tried to end the War, with no success, until now, thanks to 'TRUMP.''
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
PETER VAN ONSELEN: The truth about Victoria's WFH law - and why it's all but certain to fall apart
Someone needs to tell Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan there is a difference between governing and playing political games. Her promise to enshrine the right to work from home two days a week in legislation isn't serious policy.
The National
03-08-2025
- Politics
- The National
Kamala Harris's 107 Days leads global wave of political memoirs in 2025
A growing number of political figures are turning to penning down their experiences from the past decade. Often written in the aftermath of elections, resignations or leadership transitions, these books offer insights into the pressures of public life and the challenges of governing in turbulent times. In 2025, political memoirs will be released by figures from across the political spectrum and around the world. The subjects range from high-stakes campaigns and parliamentary transitions to questions of legacy, leadership and public scrutiny. Below is a look at some of the most notable titles scheduled for release this year. Kamala Harris – 107 Days In 107 Days, former US vice president Kamala Harris reflects on her brief 2024 presidential campaign. The book explores why her candidacy failed to gain traction, how media narratives shaped public perception and what she took from the experience of running at the highest level of American politics. Harris also writes about her tenure as California's attorney general and her views on leadership in a divided political landscape. Release date: September 3 Jacinda Ardern – A Different Kind of Power Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern examines her time in office, focusing on major events such as the Christchurch mosque shootings and the Covid-19 pandemic. The book addresses the personal and political challenges of leading during crises and the reasons behind her resignation in 2023. Ardern also discusses her broader vision of leadership, one grounded in empathy and accountability. Release date: September 17 Nicola Sturgeon – Frankly Scotland's former first minister Nicola Sturgeon reflects on her political career, from her early involvement in the Scottish National Party to her leadership during Brexit and the pandemic. The memoir includes discussion of her working relationship with Alex Salmond, her views on Scottish independence and the pressures associated with long-term public office. Release date: September 26 Joe Manchin – Dead Center: In Defence of Common Sense In Dead Center, former West Virginia senator Joe Manchin outlines his views on political moderation and party polarisation. The book recounts key moments from his Senate career, including his role as a swing vote during the Biden administration. Manchin also discusses his decision to leave the Democratic Party and his efforts to form a centrist political coalition. Release date: October 8 Sanna Marin – Hope in Action: A Memoir About the Courage to Lead Former Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin offers an account of her time in office, including her government's response to Russia's war on Ukraine and Finland's accession to NATO. Marin addresses the pressures she faced as a young female leader, including media scrutiny and public expectations. She also reflects on balancing political responsibility with personal identity. Release date: November 4 Juan Carlos I – Reconciliation In this memoir, Spain's former king Juan Carlos I reflects on his reign, his abdication in 2014 and his subsequent departure from the country. The book covers the transition from dictatorship to democracy, constitutional monarchy and the personal controversies that led to his fall from public favour. It also touches upon his eventual self-imposed exile in the UAE. Release date: November 12 Cory Booker – Stand US Senator Cory Booker expands on his record-setting 25-hour Senate speech delivered in 2025, addressing proposed changes to social security. The memoir combines political commentary with personal history, including his time as Newark mayor and his long-standing advocacy for civil rights, justice reform and civic participation. Release date: November 19 John Fetterman – Unfettered Senator John Fetterman writes about his health challenges, including a stroke and clinical depression, as well as his political career. The book follows his path from local politics in Pennsylvania to the US Senate, and includes reflections on populism, political messaging, as well as the pressures of national office. The book has been co-written with journalist Buzz Bissinger.
