A possible reshuffling of functions could serve as a kind of reset for the White House at a time when it is facing a politically challenging period: a five-week-long war has driven up fuel prices, lowered Trump's approval ratings, and heightened concerns about the impact on Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections.
Some allies said his televised address to the nation on Wednesday, which one senior White House official described as an attempt to project a sense of control and confidence regarding the war's progress, left a weak impression, further reinforcing the perception that changes in communication or personnel are needed.
"A reshuffle to show action isn't a bad thing, is it?" said another White House official.
Three White House officials and two other sources familiar with internal administration dynamics spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of personnel matters.
The sources did not name any cabinet member certain to lose their position soon but said several officials are somewhat vulnerable.
Several sources mentioned that among those potentially replaceable are Tulsi Gabbard and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, after Trump dismissed Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in recent weeks.
Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with Gabbard in recent months, said one senior White House official. Another source with direct knowledge noted that Trump has asked allies for opinions on possible replacements for the head of the intelligence community.
Meanwhile, some prominent Trump allies privately advocate for the removal of Lutnick, a close friend of the president, who has come under scrutiny again due to his connection with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump could still decide against making changes at the top of the administration. Several people close to the president note that Trump is cautious about frequent reshuffles, after constant personnel changes during his first term dominated headlines and created an impression of chaos in the White House.
One official said to expect "targeted rotation" rather than a "big, dramatic reset."
However, after the disappointing speech on Wednesday, doing nothing could be as politically risky as making a major change that would dominate headlines, said one official.
This week, Trump worked with his speechwriting team and closest advisors on the prime-time address, after being urged by aides for weeks to speak directly to the nation about the U.S. role in Iran.
During the speech, the president did not offer an exit strategy for the war, which began on February 28, leaving the impression that the conflict is open-ended. Instead of concrete solutions to voters' economic concerns, he said the pain would be short-lived and blamed Tehran for everything.
"The speech did not achieve what it was supposed to," said an official, adding that while Trump's key voters still support the war, they are broadly affected by economic pressures.
According to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, only 36% of Americans approve of Trump's overall performance, the lowest rating in his current term. The war with Iran is particularly unpopular, with 60% of respondents disapproving of the U.S. and Israel's decision to start the conflict.
Two White House officials stated that Trump is extremely frustrated by what he considers unfair media coverage of the Iran war and has made it clear to his team that he wants more positive news. However, he has shown no interest in changing his own communication strategy.