It is beyond naive for Democrats and Europe to think Trump's retreats are real. He never backs down for long | Jonathan Freedland

"Don't be fooled. When it comes to Donald Trump, what might look like a full retreat is almost always a mere tactical withdrawal, designed to buy time. He'll step back when he's forced to, under pressure, but will then revert the instant the pressure lets up. Too often, his opponents, whether at home or abroad, allow themselves to be played, confusing a mere pause for a surrender and the risk is strong that they're making that same mistake all over again."

"He shipped out the man who had become the face of the campaign of terror conducted by both CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, Gregory Bovino, a buzzcut cliche of a villain whose chief mission appeared to be the generation of content, specifically images of himself strutting around Democrat-led cities like the general of an occupying army, right down to the SS-style greatcoat."

"Next, Trump subjected his homeland security secretary, the puppy-killing Kristi Noem, to an emergency Oval Office meeting, from which his chief domestic policy adviser and the architect of the anti-immigrant purge, Stephen Miller, was pointedly excluded. To complete the picture, Trump spoke to Democratic leaders in Minnesota, later saying that he and they were now on a similar wavelength. That he felt compelled to make these moves is testament to the depth of revulsion prompted by Pretti's killing."

Donald Trump frequently stages tactical withdrawals to buy time, retreating under pressure but resuming actions once scrutiny subsides. He signalled de-escalation after the killing of Alex Pretti, removed Gregory Bovino, and convened an emergency homeland security meeting that excluded Stephen Miller. He engaged Democratic leaders in Minnesota and presented a shared wavelength. Public revulsion grew after video footage and biographical evidence undermined claims that Pretti posed a threat. The pattern of aggressive enforcement by CBP and ICE has produced other tragic, mistaken victims, including Renee Nicole Good.

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