President Donald Trump suffered a series of embarrassing losses in the last week, including a collapse in the United States’ ceasefire with Iran and safety concerns surrounding his new $400M Air Force One.
Here’s a look at Trump’s no good, very bad week.
His Great American Flop
The president’s bad luck was on full display starting when severe heat forced his Great American State Fair to temporarily shut down on July 3. But beyond sweltering temperatures, Trump’s celebration was plagued by chaotic planning, disappointing decorations and thin crowds.
Multiple musical artists pulled out ahead of the event, refusing the White House’s invitation to perform, including country music star Martina McBride, Bret Michaels and Young MC.
Those who celebrated America’s 200th birthday have said Trump’s Freedom 250 events pale in comparison to the bicentennial celebrations in 1976, which featured a Johnny Cash-led parade, a visit from the Queen of England and performances by legends like Elton John and Fleetwood Mac.
Crowds at the state fair appeared to be quite small, despite the president’s claims of a massive showing.
“Do you think people appreciate what a fantastic job we did in building and operating the Great American State Fair at the National Mall, packed with happy people, and everybody loving it?” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Ask yourself this simple question, ‘DO YOU THINK THAT OBUMA OR SLEEPY JOE BIDEN COULD HAVE DONE IT?’ THE ANSWER IS NO!”
Inclement weather also postponed Trump’s Fourth of July fireworks show, and attendees were forced to seek shelter in nearby buildings.
A Crumbling Ceasefire
Despite his claims last month that the “United States is committed to PEACE,” Trump’s ceasefire with Iran collapsed this week when the U.S. fired multiple strikes on Wednesday after it said Tehran struck three of its ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. escalated its strikes throughout the week, with Trump writing Friday: “The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!”
As the peace agreement crumbled, gas prices jumped by more than 6% on Wednesday, hitting a two-week high.
Trump has repeatedly attempted to downplay the nuclear threat that Iran poses, claiming this week he already denuclearized the country despite increasing strikes.
Not Getting To Use His Shiny New Toy
After debuting his Qatari-gifted Air Force One last week, telling reporters how “excited” he was to take it for a spin, Trump puzzlingly flew on the old Air Force One out of Turkey on Wednesday.
Trump said in a Truth Social post he was taking that jet for “old time’s sake,” adding that the new jet was being sent to the Mildenhall Air Force Base in England “to honor our brave men and women of the Military.”
The new $400 million aircraft recently underwent renovations reported to cost as high as $1 billion to install military and communications equipment.
Trump dodged questions from reporters when asked why he wasn’t flying on the new jet and instead mentioned the likelihood of Iran assassinating him.
But a New York Times report late Wednesday revealed that the Secret Service had urged the president to fly on the old Air Force One due to broad safety concerns. Officials were concerned about the new jet’s lack of defensive capabilities given an Israeli warning that Iran may be plotting to kill Trump, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Trump has said he intends to take the new aircraft, which he solicited from the Qatari royal family, with him when he leaves office ― despite the fact that it was donated to the United States government.
The exchange marks the first time a president has ever asked a foreign country to give him a present of such magnitude.
Government officials are not legally allowed to solicit gifts from a foreign entity, but the Supreme Court has famously given Trump broad immunity in a 2024 verdict stemming from his Jan. 6, 2021, coup attempt.
A Costly Loss In Court
Trump also suffered a loss in court on Wednesday when a judge ordered him to pay $5.8 million to E. Jean Carroll for sexually abusing and defaming her. Last month, the Supreme Court rejected Trump’s request to consider an appeal in the case.
The president has repeatedly gone on tirades against Carroll, accusing her, without evidence, of lying about the alleged sexual assault for financial or political reasons.
He’s also tried for years to get the case appealed, maintaining that he’d never met Carroll.
“I never touched her,” Trump said of Carroll during a 2024 New York City event. “I would have had no interest in meeting her … She made up a story, fabricated 100%, that I attacked her.”
At the same event, Trump also accused her of stealing her story about the sexual assault from an episode of a popular TV series.
“Her favorite show is ‘Law & Order,’” Trump claimed. “There’s an almost exact story as her story in ‘Law & Order’ about being attacked in the dressing room of a department store.”
Troubling World Cup Interference
After Trump meddled in official FIFA business, calling the agency’s president to investigate an American player’s red card — which FIFA then suspended — Team USA suffered a crushing loss to Belgium, reviving fears that the president may be a jinx.
The Belgian soccer team celebrated its 4-1 victory over the U.S. by trolling the president in a hilarious way, mocking his well-known “Trump dance” that he frequently performs at rallies, usually to the song “Y.M.C.A.”
The embarrassment came just a month after the New York Knicks lost their only NBA Finals game that Trump attended. The president insisted on attending the game despite the massive logistical headache his security detail caused. The crowd loudly booed him.