New York

Barely two weeks into the new year, President Donald Trump has already triggered a cascade of high-stakes confrontations — asserting dominance over Venezuela, intensifying threats to take control of Greenland, and unleashing masked immigration agents across US cities.

Added to that is a highly unusual criminal investigation involving the Federal Reserve — a central pillar of the US economy that Trump has openly sought to pressure.

Even by the standards of a president known for disruption, the pace and scale of Trump’s actions have generated extraordinary turbulence as voters prepare to pass judgment in the upcoming midterm elections, which will decide control of Congress.

Each move carries serious consequences, from the risk of foreign military entanglements to potential damage to the nation’s financial stability. Yet Trump has pressed ahead aggressively, unsettling not only Democrats but also some figures within his own party.

“This is a presidency that has broken from the norm in a way we haven’t seen before,” said Yale historian Joanne B. Freeman. “It feels fundamentally unrestrained.”

Trump, however, appears unconcerned about the backlash. While he has occasionally retreated from controversial positions in the past, he now seems determined to double down repeatedly.

“I feel very confident right now,” Trump said Tuesday during a speech in Detroit, an event intended to spotlight economic performance. He claimed the economy is booming, dismissing persistent worries over rising prices.

Still, he could not resist attacking Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who has resisted Trump’s push for lower interest rates.

“That guy won’t be around much longer,” Trump said.

Federal Reserve scrutiny sparks unease

Republican leaders have largely stood by Trump throughout his turbulent second term. But signs of discomfort emerged this week after Powell revealed that the Federal Reserve is facing a criminal inquiry related to testimony over renovations at its headquarters.

Over the past year, the Justice Department has pursued cases against several high-profile Trump critics, including former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James and ex-national security adviser John Bolton.

Targeting the head of the central bank, however, crossed a line for some conservatives. Even Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo, typically a vocal Trump supporter, expressed concern.

“Wall Street really doesn’t want to see this kind of confrontation,” she said on her show Monday. “The president raises valid points, but this kind of probe makes markets nervous.”

The Federal Reserve’s independence is central to economic stability, as it sets interest rates that affect borrowing across the economy. Economists warn that undermining that autonomy could ultimately push borrowing costs higher — the opposite of what Trump wants.

A sharper turn in foreign policy

At the same time, Trump has dramatically expanded US involvement abroad, signaling a departure from the restrained “America First” approach he once championed.

Most notably, US forces earlier this month carried out an operation to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. While Trump had long accused Maduro of ties to drug trafficking, he has since reframed the intervention as a business opportunity for the United States.

Trump has announced plans for Washington to oversee portions of Venezuela’s oil sales and claimed the country will effectively be governed from the US capital. In a social media post, he even labeled himself Venezuela’s “acting president.”

Beyond Venezuela, Trump has issued threats toward Cuba and Iran, while insisting the US will take control of Greenland “by any means.” The territory belongs to Denmark, a NATO ally, raising alarms among European partners.

Immigration crackdown fuels unrest

Domestically, Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement has ignited tension and fear in several cities. One confrontation turned fatal in Minneapolis, where a federal agent shot Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three.

Officials said the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer acted in self-defence, claiming Good tried to strike him with her vehicle. That account has been challenged by local authorities and by video footage circulating online.

The shooting followed Trump’s decision to deploy 2,000 immigration agents to Minnesota, citing alleged fraud within the state’s Somali community.

On Tuesday, Trump said authorities were targeting “thousands” of violent criminals, including convicted murderers, rapists and drug traffickers, as well as individuals released from foreign prisons and mental institutions.

Democratic leaders say the tactics are spreading fear rather than safety. Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, who heads the Democratic Mayors Association, described the situation as destabilizing.

“There’s real anxiety in our communities,” Bibb said. “The raids in Minneapolis have shaken people, and local leaders are struggling to reassure residents. Many don’t feel the economy or the country is improving.”

Midterms loom as judgment day

Voters will soon weigh in this November, when Republicans seek to hold onto Congress for the remainder of Trump’s term.

Democratic strategists are centering their early messaging on economic concerns, an area where polling shows Trump is vulnerable. A December survey by the AP-NORC Center found that only 31 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the economy — the lowest rating he has received on the issue in either term.

“Trump’s visit to Michigan underscores how Republicans have failed to address the cost-of-living crisis,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene, chair of the Democrats’ House campaign committee.

Some progressive activists, however, argue that Democrats should more aggressively confront what they view as Trump’s unprecedented consolidation of power.

Ezra Levin, co-founder of the activist group Indivisible, warned that Trump’s behavior could intensify as his presidency enters its final stretch.

“Anyone expecting him to fade quietly into a lame-duck period is misreading this moment,” Levin said. “Authoritarian leaders don’t step aside easily. When pressured, they strike back.”

Trump insists he is fulfilling the mandate voters gave him, and his allies remain largely unified.

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Republican National Committee spokesperson Kiersten Pels said voters will reward the president’s approach.

“Americans elected President Trump to prioritize their safety,” she said. “He’s delivering on that promise, and voters will remember it in November.”