This might be a bit confusing, but ...

I use a term "sheepdogging" in certain situations where someone is out of control (usually in work situations with a pushy person doing things s/he shouldn't be doing) and then another person begins to quietly, determinedly round her/him up, like smart, quietly clever sheepdogs rounding up a mob of sheep based on commands from a nearby human.

It may take a bit of running around by the dogs, but eventually the mob of sheep are doing what they are expected to do. The sheep may not even realise that they have been outwitted by dogs and humans. The dogs don't bark or make a fuss. They just get on with the job.

I've been thinking about that in relation to Trump and his legal adventures. Initially he might think he is in control of the situation, but little by little he is being herded into a place where he no longer has as much control as he expects and he will have to start doing what he is told.

Another way of looking at it is that the noose around Trump's neck - figuratively speaking - is softly tightening, little by little every day and he might think he'll get away with it all, but I think he underestimates his legal opponents.