Why the White House Is Spiraling Over Trump’s War

The White House is unraveling under the weight of Donald Trump's escalating war in the Strait of Hormuz, with oil prices surging to $114 a barrel and projections pointing toward $160. Michael Wolff and guest Nico Hines dissect a crisis of leadership, where the administration is paralyzed—unable to exit the conflict or manage its political fallout. At the heart of the chaos is Trump’s refusal to acknowledge reality, exemplified by his denial of the war’s unpopularity and his dismissal of the oil crisis as a non-issue. The episode draws a stark parallel to Jimmy Carter’s 1979 oil shock, warning that history may repeat itself. A central theme is the collapse of loyalty: Rudy Giuliani, once a symbol of power and loyalty, now lies broken and abandoned by Trump—proof of what happens when you align too closely with the former president. Meanwhile, the tech elite—Bezos, Zuckerberg—have made the same fatal miscalculation, betting on Trump’s permanence while ignoring his self-destructive tendencies. Polls now show Trump’s approval at 37%, with even Republican base enthusiasm eroding. The war is as unpopular as Vietnam at its peak, and the midterm election looms as a potential bloodbath for Republicans. The episode ends with a chilling realization: Trump’s downfall may not come from external forces, but from the slow erosion of his own support—and the people who once fawned over him are now scrambling to disassociate.