Trump won't drop war, tariffs or monuments to save the GOP
Read the polls, watch economic indicators and talk to President Trump's inner circle in private, and the verdict on his second term seems clear: Even some longtime insiders fear he's trapped by a war he shouldn't have waged, tariffs he shouldn't have levied, monuments he shouldn't be obsessed with. Why it matters: These three topics chew up much of Trump's time and attention. All three are widely…
President Trump appears to be trapped by three unpopular issues - a war he should not have waged, tariffs he should not have levied, and monuments to which he is obsessed. These topics consume much of his time and attention, all of which are widely unpopular with the public. His approval rating has plummeted to 32% in a recent Quinnipiac poll, with 68% of voters stating he is not focused enough on the problems most Americans face.
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed that voters are split on which party is better for the economy, indicating a shift from Republican dominance on this issue for the last nine years. Republicans still support Trump on immigration, according to a new AP-NORC poll. However, he has squandered the GOP's most durable political advantage, as shown by recent polls.
Behind the scenes, about 70% of Trump's mind is focused on renovating and monuments, a legacy project he is deeply invested in. This fixation, along with his reluctance to spend $400 million from his super PAC, MAGA Inc., has demoralized his base. Republicans have urged Trump to redirect his focus towards affordability or the economy but to no avail.
Instead, Trump has continued to obsess over renovations and monuments, showcasing his plans on Air Force One, the White House ballroom, and the South Lawn helipad. The insider explains that Trump's pride, stubbornness, and lack of discipline make him too resistant to change. Historically, sixth-year summers have been terrible for presidents, and this year seems to be no different for the Trump presidency.
Written by urgent.news from Axios's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
