President Trump is fighting many battlefields.
Although I could easily double it, it was a 9th Crusade.
If there is a common topic here, it is the president’s long-standing hatred or condemnation of elite institutions.
That's why his first three months seemed to be trapped in high speed speeds – critics would say confusion – because he broke the traditional model of solving one or two problems at a time. The voters gave him a second term to shake things up. This is the first Trump term for steroids.
Ministry of Education. Recovered for the first time since 2020 for defaulting federal student loan collection
The president was surrounded by loyalists who encouraged his approach to flooding, unlike some of the more traditional figures (Rex Tillerson, Jim Mattis, Gary Cohen), who tried to restrain him the last time they lived in the White House.
One advantage is that he uses truth social as a weapon to remove those who are not satisfied with him.
Yet he still finds time to abolish rules that limit shower pressure, calls for the abolition of pennies, and opposes the ever-changing clock (although his position on daylight savings is unclear) – all things that will affect people's daily lives.
Donald Trump's nine battlefields have no particular order:
1. Top private universities
Although Trump himself went to Wharton, he has been attacking Columbia and other tallest Ivy League universities. Harvard has frozen more than $2 billion in federal funds, with another $7 billion in jeopardy. In addition, the IRS is considering revoking college tax-free status.
Trump has repeatedly criticized Harvard University in recent weeks. (Getty Images | Istock)
The White House now admits that a letter transmitted by a Trump official to Harvard University was “unauthorized” and should not be sent. Harvard officials were stunned because they believed they were reconciling with the government.
2. Law Firm
Under Trump's pressure, a huge law firm fell into trouble and reached a settlement with the White House. This involves agreeing to provide up to $100 million or even $125 million in unpaid services on matters important to the government. Another option is an executive order that pulls away security permissions from its members, which makes it impossible to serve its corporate clients without accessing secret data. Some companies fought back, some lawyers resigned in protest, but most were voluntarily settling.
3. media
President Trump has sued CBS, NBC and Gannett. With George Stephanopoulos' approval, he won a $16 million lawsuit against the ABC when he was responsible for his sexual abuse, repeatedly calling him a rapist. Even if suits are nowhere to go, journalists and news media have to hire lawyers and go through hardships.
Mark Zuckerberg
Trump has long used the media as foil, but now he is ridiculing people like CNN's Kaitlan Collins when trying to ask questions. He refused to ask an issue to NBC reporters that the network had no credibility. However, Trump offers an absolutely amazing level of access. He asked questions almost every day and took over the news pool (AP is still excluded). Coverage is the vast majority of anti-Trump-sometimes self-caused-but also improves clicks and ratings. This is a love-hate relationship.
4. Fed
Yesterday, when Trump stepped up his personal attack on Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, his nose fell into trouble again, apparently trying to urge him to resign. Powell's job is to worry about inflation, not to deceive the economy, because the president wants him to lower interest rates.
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell answered David Rubenstein’s question (not shown) at a meeting of the Washington State Economic Club in Washington, DC, Washington, D.C., February 7, 2023, Washington, D.C. (Reuters/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/Architecture Photo)
The entire tariff war frightened Wall Street and alienated allies such as Canada (the 51st State???), Mexico and the EU. He repeatedly promised to launch a tariff war during the campaign, but no one expected tariffs of this scale, even with retaliation against China. Now, Trump says he will even reach an agreement with China. The 90-day pause seems to stabilize things, but it remains to be seen whether the president can reach an agreement with 90 countries within 90 days.
5. Court
Donald Trump has a long history of attacking judges and prosecutors. Now, even with a 6-3 Conservative majority in the Supreme Court, he will reach the boundaries, perhaps crossing the line.
The president asked reporters to talk to lawyers a few days ago after skewed the wrong deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The next day, he unloaded in detail on Abrego Garcia, saying he was a violent man worthy of being in prison, criticizing Chris van Hollen for visiting his trip on a meticulously staged photo.
Abrego Garcia is likely a member of the gang, but a previous court ruling ruled that he should not be sent to El Salvador. Politically, this is a matter of victory for Trump. But when Scotts ruled 9-0 that he should “promote” Garcia's return, Trump almost ignored it.
Trump says he feels “unhappy” with Fed Chief Jerome Powell
In another case, the Supreme Court ordered Trump 7-2 not to move the second wave of Venezuelan immigrants from detention centers. This time, the government agreed to comply with the ruling.
6. Former assistant
The president followed his two appointments from his first term.
He ordered an investigation into his former cybersecurity chief Chris Krebs to deny the 2020 election being manipulated in a “false and unfounded” manner. He called Krebs a “significant bad actor who weapons and abuses his government authority” which means Krebs found all other investigations, including what Attorney General Bill Barr found, with no evidence of fraud.
Trump also ordered an investigation into Miles Taylor, written for the New York Times column, who wrote about tearing the president apart.
Taylor is a former homeland security official, “the president was told in a memorandum that the president wrote a book in a claim about your government and others, making heinous claims against your government and others.” So he is also investigating. Trump even accused Taylor of “treason.”
7. Hill Republicans
The president has put pressure on his party members to work with whatever he wants. Apart from Matt Gaetz's slump, despite doubts about the likes of Pete Hegseth and the Trumpet (RFK Jr), it means approving all his nominees.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth prepares for a TV interview outside the White House on Friday, March 21, 2025. （AP/Mark Schiefelbein）
He publicly warned that he would use Elon Musk's funds to launch major opponents against those who opposed him. Musk has been Trump's heat shield, although he broke with him due to tariffs. Remember, Musk put money into the battle of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and lost. The chainsaw looks very different now.
Although the violent attacks on Tesla are mean, Musk must also admit that he can only save $150 billion after announcing a $1 trillion cut. Musk also admitted to firing and had to re-enlist bird flu experts and nuclear bomb experts, but remains the richest person in the world.
Lisa Murkowski just came out and said: They are all afraid of criticizing Trump for fear of political revenge.
8. Kennedy Center
Never done it, but the president fired all Democratic board members and appointed himself as chairman. He even suggested that he should present the annual award for the glittering building on the Potomac named Kennedy International Airport – not because he needs attention, but because it is good for viewers.
The board has been bipartisan, but that hasn't bothered Trump.
Some of the performers, led by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who became famous for “Hamilton”, have already withdrawn. Only conservative performers can get the green light?
I chose the Kennedy Center as an example of Trump’s cultural war, but he also targeted the Smithsonian Institution and the National Zoo.
9. VolodymyrZelenskyy
The president, with the help of JD Vance, completely humiliated the Ukrainian president at the White House collapse meeting. Now, Zelenskyy takes a lot of responsibility for the conflict-he should shut up and walk away with agreement, but bait.
Trump took a step, kicked him out of the White House and sent him home.
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Now, Trump said through Marco Rubio that he may give up a ceasefire in Ukraine. This is exactly what Vladimir Putin wanted so he could continue to seize land from the brave Ukrainians. One thing Trump said he would do but didn't do is put pressure on his friend Putin. He still blames Zelenskyy and Ukraine for the temptation of the Kremlin invasion.
That's the list. Create your own as you like. Sometimes it works for Donald Trump, sometimes it doesn't fit. But this helps explain the dazzling pace of change and convey a clear message that he is responsible.
