Overview
- Politico’s Jonathan Martin publishes a profile asserting President Trump has prioritized entertainment and self-gratification over governing nearly a year into his second term.
- It highlights escalating White House makeovers, from a larger flagpole and a paved Rose Garden to plans for a towering East Wing ballroom and an Oval Office model for an “Arc de Trump.”
- The piece describes a schedule heavy on celebrity encounters and public spectacles, citing sports outings and a high-profile appearance at the Navy’s 250th anniversary in Norfolk.
- Martin alleges erosion of democratic norms through vulgarity, patronage and frequent pardons, drawing comparisons to leaders such as Viktor Orbán.
- The profile points to practical fallout, noting Trump skipped a pivotal House district effort this week, and says foreign hosts court him with gifts from a Windsor Castle invitation to a Qatari plane and ketchup-friendly menus in Seoul.