Sunday arrived with a bombshell. Or maybe the absence of bombshells, as Trump ordered the Pentagon to scale back U.S. participation in joint exercises with South Korea. He said it was because of his “very good relationship” with Kim Jong Un, the leader of nuclear-armed and heavily sanctioned North Korea. South Korea was understandably worried, but pointed out that the annual exercises had already begun.

Meanwhile, Trump’s frustration with the war in Iran was on full display Monday. Trump threatened to attack Oman if it hampered American efforts in the Strait of Hormuz.

“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the s*** out of them,” he told Fox News, while claiming his administration had opened a back channel to Iran.

Oman is a U.S. ally, but has maintained relations with Tehran. In a sign of a deepening quagmire, at least 11 people were killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, marking the deadliest day since a June ceasefire agreement.

Republicans also expressed worries that Trump’s dismissive comments on conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln last week could come back to haunt them, with growing unease among service families.

A day later, Trump had to clarify that there were no talks underway with Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps publicly contradicted his claim, leaving analysts in the awkward position of trying to decide which account they trusted.

Wednesday brought an indication of where it is all going and what it means politically. The president’s approval rating dipped to 33% in a Reuters-Ipsos poll, its lowest yet. Trump distracted himself by taking reporters on a 30-minute tour of the new South Lawn helipad, where he signed a piece of its stonework.

The president also announced a “crushing economic operation” that he said would amount to “Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale,” with warnings that countries trading with Iran would face consequences.

Thursday brought awkward economic news. The Treasury announced the national debt had passed $40 trillion, the result of decades of borrowing to pay for social safety net programs, military spending, and Trump’s tax cuts.

With so much gloom around, some midterm candidates have been happy to have the president stay away from their campaigns. Not Sen. Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC), who needs all the help she can get after a shaky debate performance against her Republican runoff opponent, Ralph Norman. Trump is due to stump in South Carolina for Lindsey Graham’s sister on Friday afternoon.

So what did our two strategists make of it all?

Jed Babbin: Grade D-

The national debt went to over $40 trillion last week, resulting in a loss of a whole letter grade here for Trump. There’s a lot more going on with Iran, North Korea, and NATO, which Trump isn’t able to get into a war with Iran.

$40 trillion is an unimaginable amount of money, and it doesn’t even include the amount taken from the Social Security “trust fund,” which isn’t included in the debt estimate. I calculate that if you took $100 bills and laid them end-to-end, you wouldn’t reach $1 trillion until you went around the earth at the equator — that’s about 25,000 miles — 8.8 times. $40 trillion is forty times that amount.  It’s impossible to understand, or believe, that number, which is why no one takes it seriously — but the president damned well should.

Of some interest is the fact that the interest payments on the debt will have risen to over $1 trillion this year. That’s equal to the entire Pentagon budget.

Trump has threatened to bomb Oman if it gets in the way of peace talks with Iran. And why does he believe that peace talks with Iran will come to any reliable agreement? It’s a substitute for reality. We shouldn’t be negotiating with those people.

Trump now wants a summit meeting with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. Why? Just because. Not a good idea. He needs to wake up because the Russians are beginning to launch drones over Poland, a NATO ally. No good news here.

Jed Babbin (@jedbabbin) is a Washington Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in the administration of President George H.W. Bush.

John Zogby: Grade F

The president’s polling numbers are terrible, no longer just “not good” or “troubling.”

He tells Americans to simply accept high gas prices (caused mainly by HIS unpopular war) and tariffs, then threatens to attack Iran again. He declares that the Strait of Hormuz is “US territory” and threatens to bomb Oman if they stand in the way of negotiations with Iran (which are not really taking place anyway).

He shows utter disregard for the condition of sailors deployed on the USS Abraham Lincoln, who are sorely lacking in food and basic supplies.

On the home front, U.S. debt passed $40 trillion this week and is on its way to $50 trillion at a fast pace. Taxpayers are now paying more to “service the debt” (AKA making the minimum payment on your credit card) than on defense.

Retail sales are the lowest in over a year (recording a 0.6% drop from June to July), and consumer confidence is down 8% in August. A majority of Americans tell pollsters they are doing worse financially under Trump, personal bankruptcy filings have increased, and bond market yields are up to 6%, en route to 7%.

As for Trump, according to an analysis by Ralph Nader, he made $1.1 million per hour based on a 40-hour work week in 2025.

So, what is the president talking about when he isn’t trashing allies and enemies and sailors? He is asking the Supreme Court to approve funding to continue work on his White House ballroom, praising the renovations to the White House, and touting his new multimillion-dollar White House helipad, which all comes down to the John Zogby LARGAS principle: Like Anybody Really Gives a S***!

John Zogby (@ZogbyStrategies) is the founder of the Zogby Survey and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies. His latest book is Beyond the Horse Race: How to Read Polls and Why We Should. His podcast with son, managing partner, and pollster Jeremy Zogby, can be heard here.

Some wild speculation

Secrets brings you an updated list of possible contenders to replace the irreplaceable Karoline Leavitt. Some of this is based on actual intel. Some is just wild speculation. If you want one takeaway: No one knows anything.

Scott Jennings: CNN’s favorite Republican has seen his stock soar. There have been whispers of a meeting with Susie Wiles and well-placed comments that the job is his if he wants it. Secrets verdict: Not a chance. He probably meets Wiles all the time, and no one gets a job in Trumpworld by letting everyone know you want one.

Alina Habba: Rather ruled herself out with a social media post saying she was not in the running for a new job and blasting the fake news. Secrets verdict: She’s running. Might be the canniest move she has made yet, having missed out on previous gigs for being too pushy.

Anna Kelly: Good on TV. Would be a promotion from within. Secrets verdict: We have barely recovered from our past tussles with Jen Psaki, the last redhead to hold the role. But Kelly fits the bill.

Ari Fleischer: Don’t laugh. His name keeps coming up in conversations with Secrets, plus NOTUS threw his name into the mix yesterday. Secrets verdict: Surely a misunderstanding. Trump may consult with him, but isn’t likely to go back to the future with George W. Bush’s press secretary.

Natalie Harp: Trump’s human printer has been having quite the week, and now her name is popping up in relation to the press secretary gig. Secrets verdict: Do me a favor! Anyone who tells you this is not connected has no idea what they are talking about.

Roma Daravi: Who? Exactly. Last seen handling communications for the Kennedy Center, she has been a devoted spokeswoman for various Trump causes for a decade. Secrets verdict: Exactly the sort of profile that could land the gig.

Donald J. Trump: Last night, the president posted a picture of himself at the lectern with the caption, “Best press secretary ever.” Secrets verdict: Exactly. Don’t expect a new press secretary to be appointed soon when the president does a lot of it himself.

Lunchtime reading

Inside the police investigation into how Rep. Max Miller’s daughter got hurt: The more you learn, the muddier it gets.

The Sussexes’ strategy for a quiet life and a fresh start in Britain: Harry and Meghan are heading home. So what does it look like? There won’t be a revenge tour, and new organizations have already been told to watch their step.

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