Despite a turbulent opening chapter marked by abrupt policy shifts and public controversy, Donald Trump’s first month back in office unfolded with an intensity that supporters described as decisive and critics labeled destabilizing. Mass firings of government employees sent shockwaves through federal agencies, unsettling career civil servants and prompting debates about institutional continuity and executive authority. At the same time, everyday Americans felt the pressure of rising grocery costs, with egg prices becoming a widely cited symbol of broader inflation anxieties. Financial markets reacted unevenly, swinging between cautious optimism and sharp sell-offs as investors tried to interpret the administration’s aggressive posture on trade and regulation. Layered onto this economic uncertainty was a renewed escalation of tariff disputes with major trading partners, reigniting fears of global retaliation and higher consumer costs. Yet, amid these challenges, Trump’s approval ratings remained unexpectedly steady, defying predictions of an immediate public backlash. For many observers, this stability suggested that public opinion had hardened along familiar lines, with fewer voters willing to change their views quickly, even in response to dramatic headlines. It also reflected how deeply Trump’s political identity had become intertwined with disruption itself, making volatility less of a liability for his base than it might have been for other presidents. Continue reading…
