Trump’s White Knuckle Ride

Well even I did not expect this. Scaramucci, the golden boy, escorted from the White House after being fired as Director of Communications just days after being appointed. Those who declare the White House to be in chaos cannot now be credibly challenged. But and there is always a but, this may be the pivotal moment when everything finally gets sorted and the Trump Presidency gets back on the road.

A stony faced 4 star Marine General to whom everybody (everybody?)  reports, who will tolerate no indiscipline, stepping out of line, leaks, adventures off message and policy made on Twitter, might be the very answer to what is now a crisis of confidence. Rasmussen tracking yesterday had Trump at below 40% for the first time; his lowest ever with the polling company which correctly predicted his election.  This is a bad as it can get. No further.

So far Trump’s base has held firm, business has invested in the hope of an economic re-birth, the markets have climbed, the dollar has strengthened and new jobs have multiplied. But all of this is driven by trust and expectation. Now Trump has to deliver actual outcomes to match his promises and his rhetoric. So far this has not happened. The poll ratings are a sign that the people are beginning to wonder, even his core supporters. So is the fall in the value of the dollar. The markets and business sentiments are poised.

If the Generals, and now there are three of them in key positions, get a grip and channel Trump’s energy and strategic vision into a coherent action plan, much good stuff will happen, whatever side of the political divide you are on. But if they cannot, or worse if Trump starts firing them, then for this Presidency, it is over. He may not even last his full first term.