Donald Trump's greatest political asset is that his opponents consistently underestimate him. As he prepares to assume the presidency again, his assets are as great as ever. It may seem counterintuitive, but despite Trump's greatest political victory, and perhaps the nation's greatest presidential resurgence, Trump's opponents continue to pretend as if his success was a fluke. continues to behave like that.
Trump's victory in 2016 was a surprise to the Democratic Party and establishment media. To them, that and Trump were flukes, and Hillary lost more than Trump won. They treated him with contempt throughout his term.
In 2020, the Democratic world was right. The global pandemic has provided grounds for the intrusive government actions that authorities in blue jurisdictions have become accustomed to, even as every move of the Trump administration has been criticized. The economic collapse that accompanied the national lockdown was also brought about by President Trump. When civil war roiled the country. Again, it was Trump's fault. minneapolis It was the president's fault.
The Democrats did not allow their candidate to win because they were sure they would win. campaign And let Joe Biden risk blowing it. When the Democrats actually won, they ignored seeing how close the results actually were because they didn't want to see or admit it.
Instead, they told themselves that no one ever recovers from a presidential loss, and that only Grover Cleveland could come back from more than a century ago. But just to be clear, Democrats impeached Trump a second time and launched legal action against him over the next four years.
They removed Trump from office through their campaign. This is despite the fact that their legal work has no impact on Mr. Trump, and they would have to remove the incumbent president from the race, having already conceded the election. Even if the second choice stumbles, they will continue to support President Trump and his “garbage” supporters may win.
Four years later, Democrats continue to underestimate Trump even after he defeated both the incumbent president and vice president. This marks Trump's popular vote victory (first for a Republican in 20 years), third consecutive major party nomination (first since Franklin D. Roosevelt), and third consecutive popular vote victory for a Republican in 20 years. This is despite an increase in the rate.
Democratic Party officials vow resistance To the Trump administration. Moreover, they are doing so over an issue that Americans do not support: one that is illegal. immigration (Biden's approval rating is 34.8%) crime (Biden's approval rating is 38.3 percent), transgender surgery and electric vehicle tax credits (which will account for 20% of U.S. car sales in 2024). electricity).
Picking a fight with someone who just won the popular vote — even before he takes office — puts Democrats at odds with the nation's largest group of voters. And picking on these unpopular issues makes them look even more extreme and elitist.
The recent fight for federal funding was also an understatement. For some reason, Democrats didn't expect Trump to oppose the 1,500-page last-minute bill. Nor did he expect that he would win and the omnibus continuing resolution would be shortened to just over 100 pages and passed, averting the shutdown.
In both cases, Democrats believe that even though they have leverage with President Trump, he will not or cannot use it.
Mr. Trump is politically stronger now than he was eight years ago. He is also well versed in politics. The juxtaposition with the failed Biden administration (Biden will further smear Democrats before he leaves office, and Democrats in Deep Blue jurisdictions who oppose crackdowns on illegal immigration will do the same afterward) and makes him even more It will make you stronger. As a result, President Trump's favorability rating is evaluation has increased rapidly.
Trump is a destroyer. He uses it to throw his opponents off balance. America elected him president precisely because of such turmoil. But Democrats themselves have to be very confused, too, stubbornly insisting on treating Trump as they have since 2016, despite all evidence to the contrary.
They simply cannot accept the fact that Trump is a political force. It makes no sense, but it's the best inaugural gift Democrats could give him.
The author is JT Young. new book, “Unprecedented Attack: How Big Government Unleash America's Socialist Left” from Real Clear Publishing. He has spent more than 30 years in Congress, the Treasury Department, and OMB, and has represented Fortune 20 companies.
