‘Lake America’, Kim Jong Un and more: Trump’s distraction game heats up as Iran war drags on and midterms loom

US President Donald Trump appears to be intensifying his efforts to shift attention away from the Iran war and economic pressures as Republicans head into a difficult midterm election season in November.

Trump has in recent weeks turned to a series of headline-grabbing subjects, from his proposal to rename Lake Ontario to renewed talk of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and posts about changes at the White House.

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The moves fit a political approach Trump has used throughout his career: redirecting public attention when an issue becomes politically damaging.

"This president specializes in diversions," William Galston of the Brookings Institution told AFP.

The Iran war has weighed on Trump's approval ratings, which polls have placed consistently in the low 30s. The conflict has now reached the six-month mark with no clear end in sight, creating a challenge for a president who campaigned on keeping the United States out of prolonged foreign wars.

The Atlantic reported that the White House was seeking to push the conflict into the background by avoiding further military action and focusing instead on less newsworthy economic measures against Tehran.

Trump's Lake Ontario announcement provided a fresh example of the strategy. On Thursday, he called reporters into the Oval Office to announce an order to rename the lake, which borders Canada, as "Lake America."

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The announcement came amid an ongoing trade dispute with Canada and reinforced the "America First" message that Trump has used to appeal to his political base.

Democrats criticised the move. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it a "juvenile" effort to divert attention from economic concerns.

"It's a pathetic attempt at distraction, and it's working families who are paying the price," Schumer said in a statement following the announcement.

Trump turns attention to Kim

A week earlier, Trump unexpectedly revived the possibility of talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, despite having rarely discussed the issue since returning to the White House in January 2025.

Trump praised Kim, whom he met three times during his first presidency, while criticising US ally South Korea and reducing the scale of joint military exercises with Seoul.

Trump has also drawn attention to his changes to the White House. On Friday, he posted on his Truth Social network about "cleaning and regrouting the Granite" at the White House entrance.

Democrats have argued that such displays risk making Trump appear detached from voters' concerns.

At the same time, Trump is seeking to make the midterm elections a referendum on his own record. After candidates backed by him won several Republican primaries, he has suggested that his personal involvement could help the party retain power.

"Pretend I'm on the ballot," Trump told Fox News on Wednesday.

Trump is also planning to spend $400 million from his political war chest on television advertising highlighting his record ahead of the November elections. Republicans are facing the possibility of losing control of Congress in the midterms.

The White House has meanwhile promoted what it described as "14 recent wins", covering issues including restrictions on mail-in voting and increased deportations of migrants.

Economy remains a key challenge

Trump's attempts to redirect the political conversation face significant obstacles, particularly if voters continue to feel the impact of higher prices.

The Iran war remains a difficult issue for a president who promised to avoid involving the US in new foreign conflicts. At the same time, persistently high oil prices could keep the cost of living and the economy at the centre of the midterm campaign.

"It's hard to change people's minds when you're talking about things they're experiencing directly," Galston said.

The White House has also lost one of its prominent public voices after Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stepped down, saying she wanted to spend more time with her children.

Trump's political influence could face another test after the midterms, when he enters the lame-duck phase of his presidency. However, he is likely to remain a central figure in Republican politics through speculation over his preferred successor for the 2028 presidential election.

Trump has also repeatedly hinted at seeking a third presidential term. The US Constitution bars presidents from being elected to a third term, although Trump has continued to fuel speculation about the possibility.