Trump at 'most critical moment' of presidency that could save – or sink – GOP: report

As President Donald Trump takes victory laps after having secured a tentative peace deal with Iran, he’s also reached what Punchbowl News described Tuesday as “perhaps the most critical moment of his presidency” – a “potential pivot point” that could ultimately save – or sink the GOP this November, the outlet reported.

“This may be the last chance for Trump and Republicans to change the subject back to the issue driving every race – the state of the U.S. economy,” Punchbowl News reported Tuesday.

“The big question hanging over Washington now is what Trump will do next. GOP congressional leaders are desperate for Trump to not only wind down the Iran conflict but also begin focusing on the affordability issues that are driving a backlash to Republicans nationwide.”

The deeply unpopular U.S. war against Iran has sparked a historic spike in prices – notably energy – in the United States, helping to send Trump’s favorability among Americans plummeting to career lows. As such, Republicans are hoping that the U.S.-Iran peace deal sticks, though a key issue in the conflict still persists, one that could reignite the conflict at any moment.

That issue, as noted by Zeteo in an analysis published on Monday, is Israel’s continued occupation and bombardment of Lebanon, which Iran has explicitly demanded be halted as a condition for ending hostilities. While Trump has demanded Israel halt its bombardment of its northern neighbor on several occasions, Israel has remained defiant, signaling continued defiance at the announcement of the U.S.-Iran deal on Sunday.

Even so, Republican leaders have placed their electoral hopes on the U.S.-Iran deal holding, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) explicitly saying as much to Punchbowl News.

“Part of that is tied to getting a deal on Iran,” Thune said. “For example, fuel prices, et cetera, come back to the Strait of Hormuz. So if [Trump] can land a deal there that gets things moving again, it’ll have a very positive impact on the economic situation in the country. That obviously will translate into the political situation.”