The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Mike's Minute: What a shocking week for Donald Trump

25 Sep 2025

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Donald Trump has had as bad a week as any he's had. The difference that made it stand out was that he looks increasingly unhinged. It was not the UN speech. That was classic Trump – a lot of made-up stuff and grandiose pomposity. It sort of wasn’t the visas, given at its core it's also classic Trump. They want Americans hired, not immigrants, which is on brand. Chaotic, but on brand. It wasn’t even Jimmy Kimmel. Celebrating the demise of someone is a sad trait but, once again, on brand, even though Kimmel is back and Trump's stance on free speech looks decidedly mad or non-existent. The real turn of events was the war and Tylenol. For a bloke who was sorting Putin out on day one, and who told Zelenskyy he didn’t have any cards, the about-face seems astonishing, if not worrying. The pivot hands the problem to NATO and the EU, but what was he thinking taking it on in the first place? Putin has schooled him, spanked him, and humiliated him. He has that, as yet, unexplained hold over him that no one can understand. Then we come to autism. In watching the heavily touted announcement, the one we had been waiting for for 20 years, he didn’t seem to have a clue as to what he was talking about. The Amish were raised, the ingredient was mispronounced and stumbled over, and as a result pretty much anyone in health globally called it a pile of nonsensical rubbish. The basis of Trumpism is making America great again – there are too many migrants, too many bad trade deals, and an economy that isn't performing up to scratch. All of that is understandable and it's what got the votes. Yes, there was a chaotic, comedic, braggadocios style to it all. But at its base, if you were of a certain disposition, it kind of made sense, and you can't argue against the electoral success. But as the months have unfolded, it's gotten madder and more unhinged and wandered off into areas of extreme improvisation. It all culminated this week in complete humiliation over the war and a pronouncement in an area, i.e. health, that he clearly has zero experience and expertise in, and clearly has listened too much to his nutty friend with the odd voice. Disagreeing with his policy approach is politics, but being seen as a global clown undermines his reputation and that of the entire country. And that’s where he took it this week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Mike's Minute: What a shocking week for Donald Trump

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet

Other episodes from The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Jason Pine: Host of Weekend Sport and NZME Football Commentator on the All White's must-win game against Belgium

John Harman: Director of Lightforce Solar on National's promise to give homeowners 'Solar Loans'

Tama Potaka: Conservation Minister backs down on decision to sell conservation land

Rebecca Ingram: Tourism Aotearoa CEO talks the government's long term Tourism Policy Statement

Kelly Eckhold: Westpac Chief Economists on positive economic forecasts

Todd McClay: Trade Minister talks Winston Peters' latest grips with India FTA

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