Trump, has got to be one of the luckiest political leaders in the world.
After surviving an all-out assault from most of the established media in tandem with political opponents, he now gets to decide another Supreme Court Justice. Saying that this will not dominate the headlines is an understatement, as Trump is at least a master showman. So what does that mean?
Domestic: He will be safe til the November cycle, this news will dominate the airwaves and his Democratic opponents will be scrambling to counter this (same as the death of Anthony Scalia).
Some in the media will try to divert, but a slow “drip” of possible nominees will distract them enough to drown any messaging diversion.
International: This doesn’t bode well to those cheering this administration’s encumbrance on the “wall” non-issue. The new administration is a very vindictive one (more than before ), they will remember.
As to the “trade wars”, expect double the pressure as there are no more distractions this time til 2020. (So far) And the Trump administration is giving the countries with trade disputes, time-bounded goals (tariffs) as insurance to negotiation delays.
Justice Kennedy to retire, Trump has chance to reshape Supreme Court