Michael Wolff warns that President Trump’s administration is showing signs of unraveling, citing the controversial Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, weak February job data (‑92,000 jobs) and a rise in unemployment to 4.4 percent, and rising gasoline prices amid the Iran conflict. The Minnesota operation, which deployed roughly 3,000 officers, resulted in two civilian deaths and prompted federal leadership changes and agent withdrawals. Polls show declining approval for the president and limited public support for strikes on Iran, while U.S. forces have suffered casualties.
Michael Wolff Warns Trump Presidency Is Unraveling Amid Domestic Fallout and Iran Conflict
Trump's second administration has been a whirlwind of poor policy decisions. / Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag
Michael Wolff, author and biographer of President Donald Trump, says the administration appears to be reaching a point of no return, citing multiple political, operational and economic pressures that he argues are eroding the president's standing.
“I think the wheels are coming off in so many ways,” Wolff said on the Inside Trump’s Head podcast. “Even before the war in Iran started, politically, he was in a very complicated position, more and more and more.”
Operational Fallout: Operation Metro Surge
Wolff highlighted Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis as a focal example. The federal immigration operation deployed roughly 3,000 officers to the area and culminated in the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens—37-year-old Renee Nicole Good and 37-year-old VA ICU nurse Alex Pretti. The operation prompted the removal of Border Patrol leader Gregory Bovino from his “commander-at-large” role and his replacement by Trump adviser and border czar Tom Homan, who later announced the withdrawal of hundreds of federal agents as a de-escalatory step amid public outrage.
Bovino announced he will retire from Border Patrol at the end of March, as multiple investigations into his conduct threaten to push him out anyway. / Madison Swart / Madison Swart/REUTERS
Economic Signals
Wolff noted a mismatch between the administration’s rhetoric and official economic data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. economy lost 92,000 jobs in February, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent from 4.3 percent in January. Energy prices have also moved higher amid the conflict with Iran: the national average price for regular gasoline rose to about $3.80 per gallon, compared with roughly $2.94 a month earlier.
Branding Controversies
Wolff criticized efforts by the president to affix his name to national institutions, including his informal reference to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the “Trump Kennedy Center.” CNN reported that the Kennedy Center is scheduled to close for about two years after July 4 for renovations—a move that could affect approximately 75 to 175 of the Center’s roughly 300 employees.
On Friday, Richard Grenell, Trump's top Kennedy Center goon, was replaced by Matt Floca, the vice president of the institution's facilities operations. / Chip Somodevilla / Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Iran Conflict And Military Casualties
The conflict with Iran has taken a toll on service members. U.S. Central Command reported 13 American service members killed and more than 200 wounded or injured since the conflict began. Among the casualties were six personnel killed in an Iranian drone strike on March 1 in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, and six killed when a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq on March 12. In a March 1 address, President Trump said “there will likely be more” American casualties and later said the war would end “when I feel it in my bones.”
Public Opinion And Political Impact
Polling reflects public unease: The New York Times approval aggregate showed the president’s net approval at -14 points as of Tuesday. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found fewer than a third of Americans supported strikes on Iran, while an NBC poll indicated more than half of Americans believed the United States should not have taken military action. Wolff warned that a second term brings different dynamics that make political recovery more difficult.
Whether it's the war in Iran, the Epstein files, or the economy, the Trump administration has a lot of cleaning up to do. / Win McNamee / Getty Images
White House Response
The White House responded to Wolff through communications director Steven Cheung, who was quoted by The Daily Beast calling Wolff a “lying sack of s---,” accusing him of fabricating stories and suffering from what the statement described as “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
Where To Hear More
Wolff’s thoughts appear on the Inside Trump’s Head podcast with Joanna Coles. New episodes are released throughout the week on YouTube and across podcast platforms.
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