MAGA on the Brink

Trump struggles with impending war with Iran and Immigration policy

Welcome back to The Red Letter. Thanks to all of you who sent tips on how to get my dog Pancetta to take her medicine. I have to confess, I was so frustrated that I just wrapped the Nexguard in cheese and kept pushing it back into her mouth until she finally ingested it. As one friend put it, “Giving dogs medication is an Olympic sport.” I almost didn’t publish this newsletter after a miserable Monday and covering the “No Kings” protest, but I want to make sure I’m still delivering for you. As always, please remember to subscribe to The Tara Palmeri Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.

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This weekend I was reflecting on President Trump’s walk backs on immigration with someone who worked with him for decades, and this person suggested to me that Stephen Miller is pushing Trump too far to the right of his natural inclination, to appease the MAGA base. Look at the past seven days — he was sending the National Guard into California to conduct raids, promising the largest deportation in history, and then after a call from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, he was convinced not to conduct raids on farm hands and hotel and restaurant workers, because she explained the devastation it would do those industries. Trump clearly has a soft spot for hoteliers and restaurateurs — just look at his own properties that have long relied on H2B visa workers.

Remember this New York Times article from 2018? “Making President Trump’s Bed: A Housekeeper Without Papers.” MAGA fumed over the about-face, so Trump promised more aggressive ICE raids in Democratic cities. But it wasn’t enough. He’s had to walk back the exceptions and ICE has resumed raids on farms, hotels, and restaurants. He was reportedly pressured, too, by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Miller.

Trump’s inability to make a decision on his signature issue had me thinking about how much he craves approval. When I covered Trump as a White House correspondent for POLITICO, one of the first stories I broke was about how