In a recent NPR interview, ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl described President Trump's actions this week as increasingly unrestrained, including rewriting presidential histories and attempting to rename the Kennedy Center. Karl, author of 'Retribution,' attributes this to Trump's sense of empowerment from party control and a Supreme Court decision. The behavior, while familiar, shows a lack of internal checks.
This week, President Trump made several moves that drew scrutiny. He installed plaques at the White House with partisan descriptions of his predecessors, effectively rewriting presidential histories. His appointees also claimed to add his name to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, despite the venue being named by an act of Congress—a change Karl called a potential violation of law.
Trump further suggested that filmmaker Rob Reiner had been killed for disliking him, dismaying allies. He then delivered a primetime address to the nation, which many viewers perceived as overly aggressive shouting without substantive content warranting such a format.
Discussing these events on NPR with host Steve Inskeep, Jonathan Karl, ABC News' chief Washington correspondent, noted the familiarity of Trump's self-centered approach. 'Everything is about Trump,' Karl said. However, he highlighted a key shift: Trump now appears 'truly untethered,' with no White House staff intervening to question his authority or optics.
Karl rejected the idea that staffing alone explains this, pointing instead to Trump's empowerment. In his book 'Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America,' he details how Trump faced prison risks or immense power, ultimately gaining total party control and Supreme Court protection from prosecution. This, Karl argued, allows Trump to act without constraint.
On age as a factor—Trump is 79—Karl observed varying energy levels but dismissed it as primary. Trump remains poll-obsessed amid low approval ratings, especially on the economy, yet unlikely to change course. Karl also addressed third-term talk, like 2028 merchandise, predicting more rhetoric but no actual pursuit, as Trump's changes to institutions like the White House will endure.
