Donald Trump’s shouty prime-time address suggests he may not have another gear
While Republicans were hoping for a more empathetic and reasonable Trump who was ready to acknowledge that many Americans continue to push for more on this issue and promised to do even more in 2026, they didn’t get it.
The closest he came was when he claimed – falsely – that the price of everything was plummeting “and it’s not over yet, but boy, are we making progress.”
The plates include a fawning summary of Trump’s accomplishments and disparaging comments about Joe Biden and Barack Obama.Credit: access point
In reality, U.S. inflation is at 3 percent and trending upward, as it was when Biden gave up in January (though the Federal Reserve expects that to cool).
Another devastating Reuters/Ipsos poll this week found Trump’s approval rating had fallen to 39 percent, with only a third of voters approving of how he was handling the economy — a new low.
No matter how wrong he may be, managing the economy should be a natural forte for a billionaire who has achieved national fame as a shrewd businessman.
However, only 20 percent of the public think that the country is “on the right track” regarding inflation, and 27 percent regarding employment.
Plaques in Biden’s field below a framed portrait of Trump that he had previously replaced with a picture of a car.Credit: access point
The fact that Trump, almost a year into office, feels the need to go on prime time TV for 20 minutes to tell Americans it’s the other guy’s fault and reassure them that everything is going well tells you everything you need to know about where things stand politically.
One of Trump’s big advantages in last year’s election was that he seemed more in touch with people’s real problems and concerns, while Democrats were too associated with fringe concerns stemming from identity politics. Now Trump risks being seen as out of touch with reality.
Republican congressman Kevin Kiley told CNN immediately after his speech that Trump had made the right point, but “I think we can do a better job of really empathizing with what people are going through right now.”
Finding fault with your predecessor is a structural feature of electoral politics. Blaming your predecessor when you take office is a natural part of this. But there comes a time when this nonsense wears thin.
Plaques under Obama’s portrait.Credit: access point
The question now, for Republicans more than anyone else, is whether there is another path for Trump to take. The latest evidence suggests not.
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