Exclusive: Trump's Inner Circle Braces for More Turmoil as Third Sacking Looms
A former US diplomat has revealed that Donald Trump's inner circle could face further disintegration, with a third sacking potentially imminent within a month. This warning comes in the wake of the controversial war in Iran, which has sparked widespread political and economic repercussions.
Ceasefire Fails to Quell Domestic Resentment
Earlier this week, Donald Trump and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, nearly 40 days after America and Israel initiated bombing campaigns against Iran. The short but intense conflict has sent shockwaves across the Middle East and globally, particularly due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which caused oil prices to skyrocket.
Despite the ceasefire, resentment continues to fester within the United States. Joe Kent, the Director of the National Counterterrorism Centre, resigned citing apparent "lies" from Trump regarding the war. The political turmoil has escalated further with the firing of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on March 5, followed by the dismissal of Attorney General Pam Bondi on April 1.
Key Loyalists Dismissed, Sparking Speculation
The significance of these firings cannot be underestimated, as both Noem and Bondi were integral members of Trump's loyal inner circle. Their departures have fueled intense speculation about who might be next in line for dismissal.
Michael J Montgomery, a former US diplomat and lecturer at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, has identified two potential candidates at risk: United States Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Why Gabbard and Hegseth Are at Risk
Montgomery explained his reasoning in an exclusive interview. "If this goes bad as I suspect it will, Tulsi Gabbard will be next out the door because Trump is much more prone to firing women than men," he stated. "Hegseth is likely to follow shortly thereafter - especially if the career military people don't implement each and every Trump order no matter how illegal or deranged."
Although Trump did not ultimately follow through on his threat to end a "whole civilisation," as he posted on Truth Social earlier this week, Montgomery maintains that Gabbard and Hegseth remain vulnerable. "Trump takes the blame for nothing himself and those two are the logical fall people in the event of poor intelligence or poor execution undermining his war on Iran," he elaborated.
Gabbard's Position Particularly Precarious
Concerns over Gabbard's potential firing are not without foundation. Reports from The Guardian indicate that Trump has privately queried cabinet members about replacing her after she refused to condemn Joe Kent's resignation and subsequent comments.
The Iran conflict has not only highlighted regional power dynamics but also cast a renewed spotlight on Trump's psychological health. Throughout the war, Trump's erratic behaviour and shifting rhetoric have been repeatedly scrutinised, as he oscillated between calling for allied assistance and asserting that no help was necessary.
Growing Concerns Over Trump's Mental State
Following Trump's expletive-laden rant against Iran on Truth Social on April 5, in which he threatened that Iran would "live in hell" if it did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, psychological experts have voiced alarm. One psychologist told The Daily Beast podcast that Trump was "not the same man he was four weeks ago."
Dr John Gartner, a former Johns Hopkins University professor, provided a stark assessment: "What is most disturbing for the world is that people with frontotemporal dementia lose all judgment, all inhibition, all ability to inhibit their behavior, and they become disinhibited and aggressive."
These concerns have been echoed by Mary Trump, the former president's niece, who told The Daily Beast that she sometimes observes a look in her uncle's eyes reminiscent of her grandfather, Fred Trump Sr., who suffered from Alzheimer's Disease. "There are times I look at him, and I see my grandfather. I see that same look of confusion. I see that he does not always seem to be oriented to time and place," she claimed.
Despite multiple health concerns, including bruising on Trump's hands and a rash on his neck, the White House has consistently asserted that Trump is in good health. However, the combination of political instability and psychological scrutiny suggests that Trump's inner circle may face even more turbulence in the coming weeks.
