We’re only in the second week of President Trump’s second term, and the air already looks much clearer, smells fresher, and that, in turn, could translate into a national Republican renaissance in 2026.
The process began with Trump himself, simply by making himself more available to the press. Every appearance becomes an impromptu news conference.
He seems to have answered more media questions in one week than President Biden answered in four years.
That same transparency was exhibited by his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, at her first briefing Tuesday. She began by calling out the mainstream media.
"We know for a fact there have been lies that have been pushed by many legacy media outlets in this country about this president, about his family, and we will not accept that.
"We will call you out when we feel that your reporting is wrong, or there is a misinformation about this White House," she said.
"I will hold myself to the truth, and I expect everyone in this room to do the same."
As an example, Just Facts Daily listed 50 items of fake news that were reported as fact in 2024 by legacy media, with some of them originating from the Biden White House.
And each fake news story was repeated multiple times, by multiple outlets.
Before taking questions, Leavitt addressed an item of curiosity and even concern in November and December — the New Jersey drones.
"After research and study, the drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons," Leavitt announced, saying that this information came directly from President Trump.
"Many of these drones were also hobbyist, recreational, and private individuals who enjoy flying drones. In time it got worse due to curiosity. This was not the enemy," Leavitt added.
Concern over the drones was sufficient that the FBI got involved.
"The FBI Newark, NJ State Police, and NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness are asking for the public to report any information related to the recent sightings of possible drones flying in several areas along the Raritan River," a Dec. 3 FBI statement said.
So the FBI didn’t even know?
The question is, why didn’t the president say something at the time? It was, after all, Biden’s Federal Aviation Administration that authorized the flights.
It’s as though he wanted to rule by secrecy and fear rather than govern by openness and transparency.
Whatever the reason, the difference between Karoline Leavitt and her immediate predecessors, Jen "circle-back" Psaki and Karine "I’m the first black, foreign-born lesbian White House press secretary" Jean-Pierre, is stark.
Leavitt recalls two former White House press secretaries: Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Kayleigh McEnany, who were Trump’s spokespersons during his first term.
They were known for always arriving at briefings well-prepared, along with their honesty and intelligence.
With any luck that transparency, coupled with Trump’s renewed popularity, will work to solidify the GOP’s position in 2026.
Realistically, Trump can only count on two years with both chambers of Congress at his back. But with a spokesperson like Karoline Leavitt, coupled with a young, energetic cabinet showing American voters how it’s done, that time could be extended another two years.
The distinction between Republicans and Democrats, Trump-Vance versus Biden-Harris, Leavitt versus Jean-Pierre, is day and night.
There’s every reason to believe that the voters will take those differences with them to the polls on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2026, and turn the country into an even deeper, more brilliant red.
Michael Dorstewitz is a retired lawyer and has been a frequent contributor to Newsmax. He is also a former U.S. Merchant Marine officer and a Second Amendment supporter. Read Michael Dorstewitz's Reports — More Here.