Donald Trump's Grip on Reality Fades as His Popularity Plummets
A new YouGov/Economist poll reveals that Trump's approval rating has dropped to 38 percent, a drastic decline since the Republican Party suffered a crushing defeat in last month's off-year elections. With three years left in his term and midterms looming, the question is whether he can regain control or succumb to a devastating collapse.
The softening of public support is not just a matter of media attention but also reflects Trump's own declining health and reduced public schedule. Even as he posts on social media late at night, his appearances seem increasingly disconnected from real-world events by daylight. The mainstream media has even commented on the apparent exhaustion and frailty of the 80-year-old former president.
In an attempt to reassert control, Trump spent much of last week posting inflammatory comments on his Truth Social platform, targeting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Rep. Ilhan Omar among others. However, these attempts at attention-grabbing are overshadowed by growing disillusionment with his policies across the board, including immigration and the economy.
A first-ever poll indicates that Trump now has a net negative approval rating across all major polls aggregated by The New York Times. His numbers are even lower than those of any other president since World War II. When voters are asked which party they will support in the 2026 midterm elections, Democrats lead Republicans by 14 percentage points, with historically large margins.
Despite this, Trump's priorities remain centered on his base – the MAGA faithful who make up a loyal but dwindling coalition. His approval ratings among Republican voters remain high at 88 percent, though this is down from six points since inauguration.
In reality, Trump does not prioritize public opinion; he is driven by a desire to be loved by all and advance his own interests. But for now, it appears that key segments of the MAGA coalition are losing faith. Young men who supported Trump in 2024 are deserting him as their jobs worsen, while independent voters, who played a crucial role in his 2024 victory over Kamala Harris, are turning against him.
Critics argue that Trump's policies, including those on immigration and the economy, have become increasingly unpopular. The government shutdown, tariff policies, Russia's war in Ukraine, and controversies surrounding alleged Venezuelan "narcoterrorists" have dragged down support for Trump across all demographics.
While some may dismiss this trend as a "lame duck" president losing steam, there is evidence to suggest that Trump's influence over the Republican Party will outlast his presidency.
A new report from the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University found that 85 percent of Republicans believe their party should continue its current direction even after Trump leaves office. However, there are fissures within the MAGA coalition that could be exploited. Focus group research reveals that almost one-third of Trump voters regret voting for him or express disappointment with his handling of the presidency.
As Trump faces an uncertain future, several caveats must be considered: he has a remarkable ability to survive as a politician, and public opinion polls are fleeting snapshots in time. The Democratic Party's brand is still damaged, while Trump's MAGA supporters offer built-in advantages that will only intensify if Republicans attempt to rig elections through partisan gerrymandering and other tactics.
In the end, it remains unclear whether Trump can regain control or if his popularity will continue to decline. One thing is certain – his most loyal followers will never abandon him, but it's uncertain whether they can boost him back to dominance.
A new YouGov/Economist poll reveals that Trump's approval rating has dropped to 38 percent, a drastic decline since the Republican Party suffered a crushing defeat in last month's off-year elections. With three years left in his term and midterms looming, the question is whether he can regain control or succumb to a devastating collapse.
The softening of public support is not just a matter of media attention but also reflects Trump's own declining health and reduced public schedule. Even as he posts on social media late at night, his appearances seem increasingly disconnected from real-world events by daylight. The mainstream media has even commented on the apparent exhaustion and frailty of the 80-year-old former president.
In an attempt to reassert control, Trump spent much of last week posting inflammatory comments on his Truth Social platform, targeting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Rep. Ilhan Omar among others. However, these attempts at attention-grabbing are overshadowed by growing disillusionment with his policies across the board, including immigration and the economy.
A first-ever poll indicates that Trump now has a net negative approval rating across all major polls aggregated by The New York Times. His numbers are even lower than those of any other president since World War II. When voters are asked which party they will support in the 2026 midterm elections, Democrats lead Republicans by 14 percentage points, with historically large margins.
Despite this, Trump's priorities remain centered on his base – the MAGA faithful who make up a loyal but dwindling coalition. His approval ratings among Republican voters remain high at 88 percent, though this is down from six points since inauguration.
In reality, Trump does not prioritize public opinion; he is driven by a desire to be loved by all and advance his own interests. But for now, it appears that key segments of the MAGA coalition are losing faith. Young men who supported Trump in 2024 are deserting him as their jobs worsen, while independent voters, who played a crucial role in his 2024 victory over Kamala Harris, are turning against him.
Critics argue that Trump's policies, including those on immigration and the economy, have become increasingly unpopular. The government shutdown, tariff policies, Russia's war in Ukraine, and controversies surrounding alleged Venezuelan "narcoterrorists" have dragged down support for Trump across all demographics.
While some may dismiss this trend as a "lame duck" president losing steam, there is evidence to suggest that Trump's influence over the Republican Party will outlast his presidency.
A new report from the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University found that 85 percent of Republicans believe their party should continue its current direction even after Trump leaves office. However, there are fissures within the MAGA coalition that could be exploited. Focus group research reveals that almost one-third of Trump voters regret voting for him or express disappointment with his handling of the presidency.
As Trump faces an uncertain future, several caveats must be considered: he has a remarkable ability to survive as a politician, and public opinion polls are fleeting snapshots in time. The Democratic Party's brand is still damaged, while Trump's MAGA supporters offer built-in advantages that will only intensify if Republicans attempt to rig elections through partisan gerrymandering and other tactics.
In the end, it remains unclear whether Trump can regain control or if his popularity will continue to decline. One thing is certain – his most loyal followers will never abandon him, but it's uncertain whether they can boost him back to dominance.
, so Trump's popularity is tanking like the economy under his policies 
. I mean, come on, a 38% approval rating? That's low even for a politician who's been around as long as he has 
. It's clear that he's out of touch with reality, and his attempts to cling to power are just going to make him look more desperate.
. Those MAGA folks might be holding on tight, but they're also getting older and becoming less and less relevant 
. Meanwhile, independent voters are jumping ship, and young men who supported him in 2024 are deserting him left and right 
.
. He needs to get out there and engage with people face-to-face if he wants to regain some traction. But even that might be a lost cause given how unpopular his policies are 
.
, but I wouldn't count him out just yet. He's got some tricks up his sleeve, and the Republican Party is still vulnerable to being hijacked by his base 
. It's going to be a wild ride in the midterms, that's for sure 
.
I mean, we've seen it before - the more people doubt him, the more he'll cling to his base and try to rally them around himself 
And honestly, it's working for now - those MAGA faithful are still rocking 
But what about when they start to desert him? Will his numbers drop even further? 
. He knows the media attention is going down so he tries to stir up controversy on Truth Social to get some clicks and attention 
. Can't ignore it anymore. And the fact that his own health is declining and his social schedule is being cut back... 
sounds like he's just trying to slow down the inevitable 
. I'm guessing some big players are whispering in his ear, "Dude, it's time to go" 
, but Trump won't listen because he's too busy chasing that validation from his base 
. The MAGA faithful will stick by him no matter what, but the rest of the world is tuning out 
. Will he try to stage some comeback or just fade away? Who knows? But one thing's for sure, this guy is done 
.
. The fact that even late-night social media posts aren't doing it for him says something - maybe the 24-hour news cycle just isn't working out for him 
. I mean, I get it, he's got a dedicated fanbase, but can he win over the rest of America? Doubtful 
... Trumps grip on reality has been a concern for ages and now its just becoming harder to ignore 
. And let's be real, he's been losing steam since the midterms... those numbers are not going up anytime soon 
. I'm glad to see that at least some of his supporters are starting to question their decisions 
... but I'm not holding my breath 
as for the polls, yeah 38 percent approval rating is pretty low even for someone like trump 
but what's crazy is that he's still got 88 percent support among republicans who love him for who he is 
not everyone in the party shares those views tho 
and btw i think his biggest mistake was tweeting about tim walz and ilhan omar 
did anyone else catch that? 
and so are his numbers 
. Will they continue down the path of MAGA or will they pivot and try to win back some of those lost votes? I think there's evidence to suggest that Trump's influence over the party will outlast his presidency, but only time will tell 
.
. I mean i knew he wasnt the sharpest tool in the shed but seriously how long did ppl think he could just ride on his name recognition and ego? now his own followers are deserting him and his policies are tanking across the board 
. i swear if he tries to make a comeback ill be one of the first to call him out for it 
that's like, a total collapse lol. i think its not just the media attention tho, he's genuinely losing touch with reality 
. i think trump's biggest mistake is underestimating the backlash against his policies - immigration and economy are like, super unpopular right now 
his health issues are for real too, dont think hes gonna bounce back from that 
midterms are coming though and itll be interesting to see if republicans can still rally behind him 
38% approval rating? that's like, pretty weak even by his standards. I think he's just getting desperate trying to cling to power and attention 
. Those late-night posts are just a cry for help, and it's sad really 
.
.
. And that's why I think he'll keep on keeping on, even as his popularity plummets 
.
. newsflash: reality doesn't care about your feelings or your Twitter rants 
️. his popularity isn't gonna magically come back if he just keeps ignoring everyone else 
. And yeah, I know some people think he's losing steam, but others will always love him, no matter how much of a mess he makes.
. it's like he's created this cult-like following that will stick with him no matter what happens. and it's so scary to think about what could happen if republicans try to rig elections or manipulate public opinion