The Dark Side of Trump's Popularity: Three Issues Sinking His Support
In a stunning display of damage control, the Justice Department recently released more files from its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, a financier and convicted sex trafficker who had ties to President Donald Trump. While the documents don't contain any new, earth-shattering information, they do shed light on Trump's relationship with Epstein and how it has affected his base.
For months, Trump campaigned on releasing all remaining files related to Epstein and his partner Ghislaine Maxwell, fueling a conspiracy theory among some right-wing voters that a global network of celebrities and politicians were involved in covering up the financier's crimes. However, once Trump took office, he released only a handful of documents, calling interest in the case a "hoax" pushed by Democrats.
The damage was done. According to a recent CNN poll, two-thirds of all US adults believe the federal government is intentionally withholding information about Epstein and his associates. Even conservative radio host John Fredericks, who once defended Trump's stance on immigration and the Epstein case, now says releasing the documents immediately was "the biggest mistake" he made.
Immigration remains another major self-own for Trump, with most Americans disapproving of his border crackdown approach. Critics, including a growing number of Republicans, are pushing back against the use of masked agents in cities like Minneapolis and are calling for an end to ICE deportations. Sarah Longwell, publisher of the center-right news site The Bulwark, notes that Republican voters initially supported Trump's hardline stance but have since become disillusioned with his handling of cost-of-living issues.
The economy is also causing concern among Trump's base, as six in 10 Americans now disapprove of his handling of affordability and inflation. Even among Republicans, the economy has slipped from "excellent" to a much more muted assessment. The window for fixing these problems is closing fast, with the midterms just around the corner.
As voters begin to see Trump's presidency through the lens of these three issues โ immigration, affordability, and his handling of Epstein-related information โ it's clear that his support is starting to erode. While it's still too early to call it a backlash, the shift is undeniable.
In a stunning display of damage control, the Justice Department recently released more files from its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, a financier and convicted sex trafficker who had ties to President Donald Trump. While the documents don't contain any new, earth-shattering information, they do shed light on Trump's relationship with Epstein and how it has affected his base.
For months, Trump campaigned on releasing all remaining files related to Epstein and his partner Ghislaine Maxwell, fueling a conspiracy theory among some right-wing voters that a global network of celebrities and politicians were involved in covering up the financier's crimes. However, once Trump took office, he released only a handful of documents, calling interest in the case a "hoax" pushed by Democrats.
The damage was done. According to a recent CNN poll, two-thirds of all US adults believe the federal government is intentionally withholding information about Epstein and his associates. Even conservative radio host John Fredericks, who once defended Trump's stance on immigration and the Epstein case, now says releasing the documents immediately was "the biggest mistake" he made.
Immigration remains another major self-own for Trump, with most Americans disapproving of his border crackdown approach. Critics, including a growing number of Republicans, are pushing back against the use of masked agents in cities like Minneapolis and are calling for an end to ICE deportations. Sarah Longwell, publisher of the center-right news site The Bulwark, notes that Republican voters initially supported Trump's hardline stance but have since become disillusioned with his handling of cost-of-living issues.
The economy is also causing concern among Trump's base, as six in 10 Americans now disapprove of his handling of affordability and inflation. Even among Republicans, the economy has slipped from "excellent" to a much more muted assessment. The window for fixing these problems is closing fast, with the midterms just around the corner.
As voters begin to see Trump's presidency through the lens of these three issues โ immigration, affordability, and his handling of Epstein-related information โ it's clear that his support is starting to erode. While it's still too early to call it a backlash, the shift is undeniable.