Wednesday Speech "Underperformed," Dissatisfied with "Media Coverage," Frustrated by "War Consequences"! Trump Considering "Major Cabinet Reshuffle"

The political costs of the Iran war continue to mount, and the Trump administration is facing its most severe internal pressure test of the current term as a new cabinet shake-up looms. According to reports on the 5th citing five people familiar with the matter, Donald Trump is considering pushing for a broader cabinet reshuffle after removing Attorney General Bondi from her post this week. Sources cited by the media stated that Director of National Intelligence Gabbard and Commerce Secretary Lutnick are both at risk of potential dismissal. A White House spokesperson immediately went on the record, stating that Trump maintains "full confidence" in both individuals. The immediate catalyst for the reshuffle discussions was Trump’s national televised address on April 1. Multiple White House officials privately believe the speech "underperformed"—failing to provide an exit strategy for the war or address voters' economic anxieties. The latest Reuters poll shows Trump's overall approval rating has dropped to a term-low of 36%, with 60% of respondents opposing the U.S.-initiated war. Speech Falls Short of Expectations, Cabinet Reshuffle Discussions Intensify Reports indicate Trump prepared the Wednesday primetime address with his speechwriting team and core advisors, after aides had repeatedly urged him to speak directly to the nation regarding the U.S. role in the Iran war. However, the outcome of the speech disappointed the White House. "The speech did not achieve the desired effect," a White House official stated. In the address, Trump neither provided an exit path for the five-week-old war that began on February 28, nor did he directly address voters' economic concerns, merely describing the associated pain as "brief" and placing the blame on Tehran. A senior White House official described the speech as an attempt to "demonstrate a sense of control and confidence in the direction of the war," but it backfired, further reinforcing the perception that the White House needs to adjust its messaging strategy or personnel. "Wouldn't an 'action-oriented' reshuffle be a good thing?" another White House official remarked. According to media reports citing informed sources, Trump is currently extremely dissatisfied with media coverage of the Iran war and has explicitly told his team that he wants more positive reporting, though he has not indicated any intention to adjust his own public relations strategy. Gabbard and Lutnick Under Pressure, White House Denies Ouster Rumors Following the departures of Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Gabbard and Lutnick have been identified by multiple informed sources as potential candidates for the next round of departures. Regarding Gabbard, a senior White House official revealed that Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with her multiple times in recent months; another direct source said Trump has consulted allies on potential replacements. Notably, Gabbard is a prominent figure who has long opposed U.S. overseas military intervention. Last June, she released a video criticizing "warmongers among the political elite" just before Trump launched the first military actions against Iran, a move that deeply displeased the White House. Regarding Lutnick, several of Trump's outside allies are privately pushing for his replacement, partly due to ongoing revelations regarding his ties to Epstein. Documents released earlier this year showed that Lutnick had lunch with Epstein on his private island in the Caribbean in 2012. Lutnick himself responded that he had "almost no interaction" with Epstein and that the lunch happened only because he was passing by on a boat. Reports also suggest some Trump allies have pushed for Lutnick's removal since the chaotic rollout of global tariff policies in April last year. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement that Trump maintains "full confidence" in Gabbard and Lutnick, adding that they have "delivered historical victories for the American people together." "Bondi Won't Be the Last," Reshuffle Timing May Be Set Before Midterms Despite public denials, media reports citing multiple sources say the seriousness of reshuffle discussions has risen significantly in recent weeks. A senior White House source said Trump wants to complete major personnel changes while there is still enough time before the November midterm elections. "I’ll put it this way, from what I’m hearing, Bondi won't be the last," another official said. However, Trump may ultimately choose to take no action. Multiple sources noted that Trump is wary of frequent cabinet turnover, as the rapid personnel changes of his first term dominated headlines and created an impression of a chaotic White House. One official said any expected changes would be "targeted replacements" rather than a "massive, dramatic reorganization." Nevertheless, some argue that inaction carries its own political risks. Data shows the Iran war has driven up oil prices, weighed on Trump's approval ratings, and heightened anxiety among Republicans heading into the midterms. "Voters can tolerate ideological arguments, but rising gas prices are an immediate, personal blow," a White House official said.