When questioned about his legislative priorities for the coming year, President Donald Trump offered a surprising response that focused not on the economy, healthcare, or immigration, but on two seemingly mundane household items: straws and showerheads.
A Shift from Major Policy to Domestic Details
During an interview with NewsNation host Katie Pavlich on the one-year anniversary of his inauguration, Trump was asked what he hoped to accomplish through Congress in 2026, particularly during a midterm election year. Rather than outlining broad legislative ambitions, the president launched into a detailed discussion about executive orders he has already implemented.
Executive Actions on Water Pressure and Straws
"Well, one of the things I’d like to do — you know, we passed so many executive orders," Trump began. "I have great executive orders and they’re really common sense and good. I mean, like water coming out of a sink. The water wouldn’t come out. They had all sorts of ridiculous restrictions. I took all of that off. Coming out of the showerhead, you’d stand under a shower, there’s no water coming out. So I passed so many things like that."
This appeared to reference an April executive order that deregulated showerhead water pressure, overturning what Trump has previously termed his predecessor's "war on showers."
The president then pivoted to another long-standing personal concern: "Straws."
"They don’t have to be paper anymore," Trump continued. "They don’t have to melt in your mouth. So I passed so many different things like that, and much more important things, but like that. They’re important, they’re quality of life, and I’d like to have all of that confirmed by Congress if we can, and we’ve done a lot of it. We’ve done probably 35, 40 percent. I’d like to get them all confirmed. Every one of them."
In February, Trump issued an executive order targeting paper straw mandates, aiming to lift restrictions and permit the use of plastic alternatives. He has frequently criticised Democratic proposals to ban plastic straws, making this a recurring theme in his public comments.
Broader Context of Unscripted Remarks
The interview occurred on the same day Trump delivered a marathon 104-minute press conference reviewing his first-year accomplishments. During that event, he frequently veered off script, delivering lengthy anecdotes about topics ranging from his mother and little league baseball to insane asylums. He also revealed a desire to rename the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of Trump."
Growing Concerns About Mental Fitness
These latest pronouncements have prompted questions about the president's mental acuity, even from some former staffers.
"This presser is bizarre even for him," wrote Stephanie Grisham, who briefly served as Trump’s White House press secretary during his first term, in a social media post. "It’s all the usual rambling, off-topic tales, half-truths, lies…but it’s low-energy & feels like he’s…mentally slipping. Congress-plz wake up."
The same day, Sarah Matthews, a former Trump White House deputy press secretary, questioned the president’s mental state over his recent efforts to acquire Greenland, potentially through force, which has alarmed America’s NATO allies.
"I don’t say this lightly," Matthews told a news programme. "I think this might be the most mentally ill, deranged thing that Donald Trump has done to date, to be threatening our allies and wanting to go to war, potentially over Greenland, when his reasoning doesn’t even make sense."
Others have noted that Trump—the oldest person ever inaugurated as president—has recently appeared to doze off in meetings. The president has vigorously defended his mental faculties, telling reporters earlier this month, "I’m sharper than I was 25 years ago," and frequently boasting of acing cognitive exams. In a recent interview, he also stated his health is "perfect" and that he has "very good genetics."
Voter Apprehensions About Age
Meanwhile, public concern about the president's age has grown substantially. In February 2024, just 34 percent of Americans said Trump is "too old to be president," according to a YouGov survey. By September, that figure had risen to 49 percent, outstripping the 39 percent who said he is "not too old."
This increasing scepticism among voters adds another layer to the ongoing discussion about Trump's focus and priorities as he outlines his agenda for the coming year.
