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Donald Trump's twin obsessions of wanting to be center stage all the time combined with his desire to be linked to popular sporting events may put him on a collision course with his most rabid MAGA supporters.

That is according to Politico which is reporting that the Trump administration is bending over backwards to accommodate the 2026 World Cup to be played in the U.S. at the same time that the same administration is waging war on immigrants and foreign visitors.

According to Politico's Sophia Cai, a quick phone call to the White House from Alex Lasry, CEO of the New York-New Jersey 2026 World Cup Host Committee, got the White House to call off plans to send “suited and booted” ICE agents to matches which had alarmed officials after it was posted on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Facebook page. That Facebook post was later deleted.

The report notes that all the harsh rhetoric about foreigners coming to the U.S. fades into the background when it comes to the world's most popular sport holding its most popular event in Trump's U.S.

As Cai wrote, Trump's apparent desire to make himself a main character during the World Cup has led his administration to work more closely not only with foreign governments but the leaders in the cities and states hosting games, many of them Democrats.

"Trump has long gravitated personally to the testosterone and glitz of athletic competition," Cai wrote before adding, "Now in his second he has the opportunity to preside over the games themselves. But that requires his administration to coordinate logistically complex events that rely on the type of global cooperation and free movement of people that is anathema to Trump’s 'America First' agenda."

Adding, "Enthusiasm for the pageantry has led Trump to quickly embrace every aspect of what will be among the largest sporting events ever, even at the risk of alienating his most loyal supporters," Cai reported Trump "regularly dismisses the United Nations, NATO and World Health Organization, [but] he caters to the demands of FIFA."

Alan Rothenberg, who assisted in putting on the 1994 U.S. World Cup, suggested, "Trump, as we all know, likes attention. How could you have more attention than a couple billion people watching you kick out the ceremonial first ball and awarding the World Cup trophy to the ultimate champion?”

According to the report, in May, Vice President J.D. Vance was put on the spot about the administration, "attempting to balance its otherwise uncompromising attitude towards foreign visitors with a newfound desire to welcome soccer fans."

Vance replied,"We want them to come, we want them to celebrate, we want them to watch the game. But when the time is up, they’ll have to go home. Otherwise they’ll have to talk to Secretary [Kristi] Noem.”

You can read more here.

According to a White House insider who is deeply involved in talks with U.S. trading partners, Donald Trump's tariff threats are not to be taken seriously because they are just a "theatrical show" being put on by the attention-obsessed president.

According to a report from Politico, as Trump's 90-day window on getting trade deals done before onerous tariffs are put in place looms, there is no real urgency at the White House which has negotiators and even some White House staff taking a dim view of the proceedings.

Politico's Daniel Desrochers and Megan Messerly are reporting, "Foreign officials, trade experts, lawmakers and even some White House allies have expressed a nihilistic view of the July deadline, questioning whether a deal with the Trump administration means anything at all given the president’s penchant for using tariffs as leverage to get his way."

After noting Trump himself was wavering this past week when he told reporters, "We could extend it, we could make it shorter. I’d like to make it shorter,” one insider offered a candid assessment about what is really going on.

“Trump knows the most interesting part of his presidency is the tariff conversation,” they admitted. “I find it hard to believe he’s going to surrender it that easily. It’s all fake. There’s no deadline. It’s a self-imposed landmark in this theatrical show, and that’s where we are.”

The report notes that the president has delegated negotiations to three individuals, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, with Politico is reporting they have little actual authority and are often working at cross purposes.

"The result has been a convoluted process with little progress and no end in sight. Countries have sent representatives to the U.S. on repeated visits to negotiate, but some have failed to secure meetings. Those who have secured facetime with Trump officials have sometimes left confused about U.S. demands or have been later seen their countries chastised by Trump on social media," the report states.

Another White House insider suggested Trump just likes the attention tariff threats bring him.

“You have wins. Take them,” they remarked. "You only have to assume he doesn’t want to take them because he likes the game too much.”

You can read more here.

Reflecting on a disappointing jobs report this week that was a setback for Donald Trump's administration, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that prospects don't look much better in the coming months.

In a week of wins for the president in the courtroom and in the GOP-controlled Congress, the stunning job report was a black cloud that, according to some business execs, will continue to linger.

As the Journal's Konrad Putzier and Lauren Weber wrote, "Many private employers aren’t hiring anymore," before adding, "Weighed down by high interest rates, a federal crackdown on immigration and uncertainty over tariffs, more companies are deciding they are better off with a smaller head count."

Pointing out that the 74,000 jobs added in the private sector is regarded as "anemic," the report added that growing companies like Warby Parker and not only slowing hiring but looking for ways to reduce expenses in an economy that has more questions than answers.

"American Vinegar Works, a six-year-old specialty-food company based in Worcester, Mass., is holding off plans to bring on an additional employee to fill orders, as well as sales staff, because of concerns about the economy," the Journal is reporting with owner Rodrigo Vargas admitting, "I just don’t know what’s happening. It makes me cautious.”

David Seif, chief economist for developed markets at Nomura, told the Journal, "It’s certainly a red flag."

The report goes on to note that those who are actively looking for jobs are finding a dearth of opportunities in the current climate.

Tom Lott, the head of talent acquisition at Berry Appleman & Leiden, told the Journal, "There’s just a fear and desperation in the candidate population that I haven’t seen in a very, very long time."

You can read more here.