Heads rolling: Political expert says this is what 'panic' looks like

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS Nathan Howard

Political writer James Moules says there are a few dead giveaways for when an administration leader is in deep trouble. In those cases, look to the knife holes in the people around him.

“A purge of senior officials suggests growing panic within the highest echelons of [President] Donald Trump’s administration as the president’s approval ratings continue to sink,” wrote Moules in the i Paper, speaking on the recent removal of DOJ head Pam Bondi weeks after the ousting of Homeland Security head Kristi Noem.

And now Trump’s Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has demanded the removal of U.S. army chief of staff Gen. Randy George — and in the midst of a very unpopular and problematic war in Iran.

Moules said the sacking of senior and loyal cabinet secretaries like Bondi and Noem reflects Trump’s fright over the increasing displeasure of the American public, and his desperate need to shift the blame for his unpopular policies.

Dr. Mark Shanahan, a politics expert at the University of Surrey, agreed, telling The i Paper: “There are distinct signs of panic in the Trump administration and as per the pattern of his first term, when the going gets tough, other people pay the price. In his own mind, the President is never wrong. It’s always the fault of other people.”

Meanwhile, political psychologist and forecaster Louis Bromfield said, “The firings of Noem and Bondi speak to the reality that many inside the Trump administration need to accept, and that is that no amount of debasing oneself or groveling to the President is going to keep you in a job.”

Trump “is surrounded by sycophants, some of the worst, opportunist climbers around,” said Bromfield. “As a result, he’s pulling into his cabinet people who are just not well-equipped to handle their remits.”

And the political landscape is only worsening, say experts. Shanahan said Trump isn’t on the ballot in November, and warned Republicans to jettison Trump and his baggage if they want to survive.

“Trump … never has to run for office again, while a third of senators and the whole House of Representatives are up for re-election,” said Shanahan.

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