The First Casualty of Trump’s Stubbornness Is His Own Voters

The longest US government shutdown has exposed a painful irony — those most hurt by political rigidity are the very people who supported it. When governance becomes hostage to pride, it is citizens, not opponents, who pay first.

From federal paychecks to public benefits, the ongoing US government shutdown—the longest in American history—has disrupted daily life across the country. Ironically, many of those hit hardest are the very voters who helped put Donald Trump in the White House.

At the center of this standoff lies the administration’s refusal to compromise on the extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies. What began as a fiscal debate has turned into an economic blockade. As Reuters reports, many Trump supporters now face halted incomes, cancelled contracts, and delayed benefits, yet continue to defend him—loyal even as their own livelihoods deteriorate.

This crisis is less about partisan politics and more about consequence. When governance becomes a test of endurance rather than judgment, it punishes the very citizens it is meant to protect. The small business owner in Florida losing contracts, the federal worker in Washington without pay, and the retiree in Arizona waiting for reimbursement—all stand as reminders that political rigidity carries real-world costs.

True leadership demands a balance between conviction and flexibility. By mistaking obstinacy for strength, the administration risks eroding not only economic stability but also the trust of its most loyal supporters. Each passing week of paralysis deepens uncertainty, weakens household confidence, and damages America’s broader economic reputation.

Defiance may be a political strategy, but governance requires adaptability. When pride replaces prudence, it is not opponents who suffer first—it is supporters. Trump’s base, once convinced that his unbending will serve their interests, now bears the burden of that same inflexibility.

In essence, this shutdown offers a sobering lesson in political consequence: stubbornness in power can inflict deeper wounds on one’s own camp than on any rival. The first casualty of Trump’s stubbornness is, indeed, his own voters.

Fall of Three US Indexes: A Clear Warning

I do not claim to possess a “crystal ball,” yet only yesterday I cautioned that the “Tariff Fassad initiated by Trump may trigger a global meltdown.” Unfortunately, the first signs are already emerging. On Thursday, all three major US stock indices closed in negative territory, extending the tech-led selloff that began earlier in the week. Investor sentiment has turned fragile, weighed down by economic uncertainty and overstretched valuations, particularly in artificial intelligence-driven stocks.

Global supply chains are distorted, input costs are rising, and export-oriented economies are under strain. From Chinese manufacturing hubs to European automakers and Asian electronics exporters, uncertainty is eroding confidence. Trade volumes are shrinking, and markets across continents are responding with anxiety.

While technology giants continue to post record earnings and soaring valuations, this momentum rests on a precariously thin foundation. Analysts are increasingly calling it a “tech bubble.”

When one segment of the market inflates disproportionately, it distorts the entire financial ecosystem. Banks, small businesses, and industrial shares begin to absorb the pressure. This is not sustainable growth—it is imbalance. Traditional sectors are losing ground, consumer demand is softening, yet Big Tech is being priced as though the global economy is booming. This is speculation dressed as optimism.

Banks—the backbone of every financial system—are also showing early signs of stress. Rising interest rates, tightening liquidity, and increasing defaults in trade-exposed industries are beginning to surface in their balance sheets. Loan growth has slowed, non-performing assets are rising, and confidence among lenders is gradually eroding. Smaller financial institutions appear particularly vulnerable as their exposure to fragile industries grows unchecked. This may not resemble the sudden collapse of Lehman Brothers; rather, it could be a slow suffocation, where trust quietly seeps out of the system.

For investors in Pakistan—many of whom still carry the scars of 2008—caution is imperative. This is not the time for adventurism. Those holding fundamentally strong stocks should not be swayed by daily market volatility. Day traders must operate strictly within their risk tolerance. Those trading with borrowed money should consider stepping aside until the situation stabilizes.