Analysis: Trump fumes as top allies back down on his personal battles
President Trump is facing internal friction as key allies, including Attorney Jeanine Pirro, defy his directives on personal legal battles. This shift marks a departure from his first term, as even loyalists are prioritizing legal evidence over the president's preferred narratives.
Why it matters
It highlights a potential erosion of Trump's absolute control over his administration and the legal system, signaling a shift in political power dynamics.
Figure caption, Watch: "She folded like an umbrella" - Trump attacks Jeanine Pirro over Reflecting Pool
North America correspondent Published 4 August 2026, 00:54 BST Updated 27 minutes ago It's been a humbling few days for Donald Trump, even if the American president is reluctant to acknowledge it.
In a series of setbacks, Trump has faced adversity in matters both large and small; two of which he cares about dearly and one that could determine his and his party's political fate for the remaining two years of his presidential term.
From a flawed attempt to renovate a Washington landmark to questions about his pick to head the justice department to increasingly complicated efforts to end his war in Iran, the president has been handling tricky issues - many of his own making.
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