Best of the Spectator Americano: is Trump on a roll?
Oct 20, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Kate Andrews, Deputy US editor at The Spectator and astute American politics commentator, analyzes the recent whirlwind of Trump's foreign and domestic maneuvers. She highlights his surprising success with a Gaza peace plan and evaluates how his charm emerges during victories. The conversation dives into Trump’s controversial foreign interventions, the economic pressures at home, and the Democrats' struggle to mount an effective opposition. Kate even reflects on Trump’s cryptic remarks about spirituality, revealing a nuanced side to his ever-controversial persona.
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Foreign Policy Wins Shift Public Support
- Trump's foreign-policy success this week made quiet supporters more willing to show public support.
- Kate Andrews calls his diplomacy one of the strongest U.S. foreign-policy stretches in decades.
Winning Mood Reveals Different Trump
- Trump becomes more charming and humorous when politically ascendant, which mobilises quiet supporters.
- Andrews warns this upbeat persona contrasts with a vindictive side when he's under pressure.
Domestic Headwinds Could Undermine Wins
- Domestic problems (economy, riots, shutdown) threaten to undercut Trump's international wins.
- Andrews and Gray highlight a looming trade-off between foreign triumphs and domestic vulnerabilities.
