WASHINGTON - In a 12-hour span this week, President Donald Trump promised that the war with Iran was ending soon. He picked a fight with the Pope on social media. He threatened to fire the chair of the Federal Reserve. He posted an illustration of himself receiving an encouraging hug from Jesus Christ.
This is what it looks like when Mr Trump is under pressure and burrowing his way into a more flattering news cycle.
And anyone who has been paying even a little bit of attention over the past decade can pinpoint where we are in a well-established routine, when, intentionally or not, the President tosses out little rhetorical grenades meant to shift attention elsewhere. (It often works: Remember last week when he threatened to wipe out Iranian civilisation?)
Now, Mr Trump is showering Truth Social with Jesus memes and threats and endorsements.
"The Radical Left Lunatics might not like this, but I think it is quite nice!!!" He posted alongside an illustration of Jesus with his arm around the President's shoulder and an American flag in the background.
What makes this different from all the other times is that he cannot post his way out of a war he started without congressional permission or without the support of voters.
A fan of quick, in-and-out military operations that showcase the power of the US military, Mr Trump has grown frustrated that the war in Iran has taken longer than he had originally thought it would.
His latest decision to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil route, has required more than 10,000 soldiers, as well as dozens of planes and warships.
All the while, he has continued his usual practice of lashing out at critics. This time, he has damaged relationships with key allies, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, and made it harder for Republicans to keep the focus on economic issues in a mid-term election year.
"President Trump has taken courageous action to address a threat that past presidents have talked about for 47 years, but only he had the courage to address," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement.
"The United States military quickly achieved all of the goals enumerated at the beginning of Operation Epic Fury," she added, referring to the name of the campaign in Iran.
Ms Kelly said that the blockade was "increasing leverage as US negotiators work to eliminate Iran's nuclear threat for good".
Inside the White House, some of Mr Trump's advisers have privately acknowledged that his attack on the Pope was not productive.
They believe a slate of events later this week will help shift attention towards some of the administration's economic initiatives, and a tax season that has some Americans celebrating larger-than-average returns.
"President Trump has always been able to enact America First foreign policy while enhancing the livelihoods of Americans at home, including by cutting taxes, reshoring manufacturing, eliminating burdensome regulations, and more," Ms Kelly said.
Investors seem impatient for the war in Iran to end, too. The S&P 500 hit a fresh record high on April 15, reflecting optimism that a peace deal would be reached before the war inflicts significant damage on corporate America.
Earlier in the day, Mr Trump sat for an interview with Maria Bartiromo of Fox Business, who wanted to know whether his decision to blockade the strait had positively affected negotiations with Iran.
"The leaders they have now - it's a new regime, OK?" Mr Trump said, adding: "And I think we're doing very well, but it only matters what the end result is, and maybe it'll happen fairly soon. Who knows?"
A conga line of reporters also call and ask him about whatever they want to, creating additional mini news cycles.
"Trump reacts to FEMA official's claim he teleported to Waffle House," was a headline that appeared on CNN's website this week. It was bizarre and funny, the sort of attention-grabber that keeps Mr Trump picking up to chat in the first place.
And then there is what counts as business as usual at the White House, when White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt ended a briefing with reporters on April 15 by showing off renderings of a 76.2m-tall arch that Mr Trump wants built along the Potomac River to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.
For anyone trying to keep up, this all has a kaleidoscopic, disorienting effect. But let us peel our eyes from the Waffle House and the Jesus memes and the giant stone arch and pause for a question: Isn't getting into a fight with the Vatican during the middle of a war - and during a mid-term election year when the main topic of discussion is the high cost of living - a little extreme, even for Mr Trump?
As usual, and as it has always been, this depends on whom you ask.
"He has always been like this," said long-time Republican pollster Whit Ayres. "It all depends upon whether his recent behavior affects his job approval or changes anyone's opinion about him that they didn't already have before."
According to Dr Ayres, the most critical variable in a mid-term election is the job approval of the president.
When a president has an approval above 50 per cent, the average loss of House seats for his party is 14. When the president's job approval is below 50 per cent, the average loss for his party in the House is 32 seats.
Mr Trump's job approval sits at about 39 per cent. It hit a first-term low of 34 per cent when Mr Trump left office in January 2021.
Mr Trump had spent much of the previous year minimising the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and lost the election. The month he left office, as many as 4,000 Americans were dying each day from the virus.
When the moment calls for Mr Trump to publicly show empathy, he often leaves that work to others. When the moment calls for him to put the phone down or back away from a critic, he hits back harder.
"He'll double down, lie more and say that everything's perfectly fine and great," said Ms Stephanie Grisham, a former White House press secretary for Trump."But she's added:"He's being erratic even for him."
With a handful of months to go until the mid-term elections, Republican leaders are left with a few choices. Some are choosing their public remarks carefully; gently persuading Mr Trump - and the White House - to mind the economy.
"I'd stay focused on administration; on economic issues; pocketbook issues that I think most Americans care about; let church be church," Senator John Thune majority leader told reporters April 15.
He was responding to a question about Vice-President J.D.Vance warning Pope spiritual leader 1.4 billion Catholics - group includes Mr.Vance - be "careful" talking theology.
Rebelling is also an option; several Republicans showed April 15.
Senator Thom Tillis not running re-election 2026 said interview NBC withhold vote confirm Mr.Kevin Warsh Trump's nominee replace Jerome Powell chair Federal Reserve if Trump administration end criminal investigation Mr.Powell's handling costly renovations Fed's headquarters Washington.
As for attack Pope Mr.Tillis suggested Mr.Trump show grace.
"When you're wrong you're wrong; if made mistake; maybe just misconception; just get past it," he said."Move on."
In House April 15 six Republicans joined Democrats moving force vote measure reinstate deportation protections about 350,000 Haitians living United States.Trump administration tried eliminate those temporary protections.
GOP leaders also delayed debate extending high-profile warrantless surveillance law because rebellion over bill their ranks despite Mr.Trump's latest Truth Social order directing them move forward.
"I am willing risk giving up Rights Privileges Citizen our Great Military Country!" Hee declared social media - striking given history railing against FBI's use different part Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act FISA during investigation into Russia 2016 campaign.NYTIMES