This isn’t exactly fresh news. Recently, there hasn’t been any particularly alarming revelations about the U.S. president.
After all, I’m not sure posting a picture of President Obama with a silly caption helped him much—he didn’t even apologize for it.
That got me thinking. Comments by Ross Douthat—who writes for the New York Times and isn’t shy about criticizing Trump—caught my attention. He starts a video by saying, “I’d like to tell you a secret,” which, well, piques interest.
He claims, “This is what most conservatives on the internet don’t want you to know: One year into his second term, Donald Trump has lost the country.”
But is that really true?
He doesn’t really imply that it’s just about Democrats defeating Republicans in the upcoming midterms like the Seahawks crushed the Patriots a few years back.
Douthat shares poll insights showing Trump’s approval rating at a mere 37%. Many Americans feel the country is worse off than it was a year ago. But, perhaps—maybe—this perspective represents elite views that don’t resonate with the so-called silent majority, a term Nixon popularized and Trump seems to embrace.
Moving on to another argument: D’Souza explains how Trump’s administration has acted as if those moderate, floating voters didn’t matter in their strategy. And now? Well, maybe they’ve just exited the scene.
It’s worth noting that Trump has been proclaimed politically “dead” numerous times, especially after controversial remarks or scandals, like the Access Hollywood recording or the hush payments involving Stormy Daniels. Even among Republicans, the mood soured post-January 6. Interestingly, however, the multiple indictments against him seem to have had the opposite effect, making some think they were overreaching.
Looking back, who thought Trump could bounce back to win again?
As for the upcoming midterms, yes, the winds do seem to favor the Democrats. However, nine months is a long time. The economy could change quite a bit, too, thanks to Trump’s tariffs.
What’s also troubling is Trump’s divided approach to governance. His rhetoric has often targeted his own base while deriding Democratic leaders and cities harshly. Douthat raises a point here; if Trump’s presidency declines in popularity, it’s not just the swing voters who suffer—it could land hard on conservatives like him who, despite their criticisms, support many of Trump’s policies.
Now, while it’s easy to see why people would rally against the aggressive ICE policies that have led to visible backlash, the approach seems harsh. Cases of children and disturbing incidents involving ICE agents are emerging in the news cycle, which can’t help but shape public opinion.
High-profile incidents involving the deaths of innocents have turned places like Minneapolis into focal points of turmoil. Trump notably toned down his language following these tragedies, hinting at a softer approach amid the chaos.
So, has Trump truly lost the country? It’s a complex matter.
Issues like these often symbolize broader grievances with politicians. Despite the economy showing relatively low unemployment rates, many feel they’re worse off. The contentious actions of ICE targeting so-called “bad actors” frequently spill over, affecting innocent citizens, which can spark outrage.
In a year where ICE made around 400,000 arrests, less than 14% were involved in violent crimes, as per a Homeland Security report. This brings to light that many among the public feel unfairly targeted.
On a troubling note, stories like that of a toddler suffering immensely in custody send ripples of concern across communities. It’s hard to ignore that, even as some might say Trump can recover, the damage done by harsh policies has already left a significant mark on his leadership.
