Overview
- CNN’s David Axelrod said on Dec. 30 that President Trump’s aesthetic showmanship has become a political liability that could damage Republicans in the 2026 midterms.
- He cited high-profile upgrades and rebranding drives, including a gold-accented Oval Office, a paved Rose Garden, demolition of the East Wing for a ballroom, a marbleized Palm Room floor, and Trump’s name added to the Kennedy Center.
- Axelrod linked the optics problem to Trump’s pressure on the Federal Reserve, noting renewed threats toward Chair Jerome Powell, including suggesting he may fire him and threatening legal action over alleged renovation cost overruns.
- He argued voters focused on bills and inflation view posts about marble features and self-branding as evidence of distraction rather than efforts to lower their costs.
- Axelrod emphasized that Trump is not on the 2026 ballot yet his behavior could shape the environment for GOP candidates, calling it a significant concern for Republicans.