Trump's poll numbers are cratering. Why won't he change course?

[marmar]

Trump’s poll numbers are cratering. Why won’t he change course?
Six months into his second term, the president refuses to change his policies and behavior

By Chauncey DeVega
Senior Writer
Published July 24, 2025 6:45AM (EDT)


(Salon) In a healthy democracy, public opinion can be understood as a type of barometer that elected officials use to calibrate their agendas and behaviors. When policies or actions are unpopular, presidents often pivot and change. If their agenda proves popular, those “single-minded seekers of reelection” will likely do more of it.

And then there’s Donald Trump.

Six months into his second term, recent polls have shown a significant drop in the president’s numbers. The latest Economist/YouGov poll, released on Tuesday and covering the period of July 18-21, finds that just 41% of Americans approve of Trump’s performance in office, while 55% disapprove. With a difference of minus 14%, his net approval is deeply underwater, marking “a record low for his second term, and is also lower than approval of Trump for most of his first term.” The survey also shows widespread levels of net disapproval over a range of issues, including inflation and prices (-29%), jobs and the economy (-12%), foreign policy (-11%) and immigration (-6%).

....(snip)....

Donald Trump is a different character altogether. Instead of modifying his course like his predecessors, Trump is continuing — and in some cases even escalating — his unpopular policies. This is the man who proclaimed “I alone can fix it,” a claim he continues to believe. His view of himself, at least in public settings, is that of an infallible, almost deific, figure. Following last year’s assassination attempt in Butler, Pa., he has come to believe he was “saved by God” for a divine purpose: “I’d like to think God thinks I’m going to straighten out our country.”

Trump’s refusal to change course in response to public opinion does not exist in a vacuum. It reflects a much larger autocratic trend by the American right, whose anti-majoritarian strategy and ideology includes voter suppression and nullification, gerrymandering and the repeal of birthright citizenship, as well as using the courts and “dark money” to ignore the public will on a range of issues such as women’s reproductive rights, separation of church and state, health, education, science and gun violence. As we recently saw in what was allegedly a politically-motivated shooting in Minnesota that killed a Democratic lawmaker, her husband and dog, and injured two others, it appears some MAGA supporters even support political violence to achieve their political goals. ..................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2025/07/24/trumps-poll-numbers-are-cratering-why-wont-he-change-course/

[doc03]

1. Republicans still support him, they are counting on purging

enough of the opposition to win in 2026.

[sop]

2. We don't have a "healthy democracy."

We don't have three independent branches of government. The Supreme Court is bought and paid for, as is the Republican House and Senate. Our Free Press is no longer free. Our elections are suspect. The rule of law is dead.

[Evolve Dammit]

9. agreed

[Vogon_Glory]

3. He's staying his course because he can AND

Donald John is staying his course of action because he can and because the Cowards’ Caucus (aka most Republicans in the House and Senate) won’t lift a finger to stop him. If the complacent and the spiteful had gone to the polls to vote Democratic instead of staying home, a Democratic-controlled House or Senate might have stopped at least some of his policies. They didn’t and, along with the Trump voters, they get to hurt with those of us who knew better.

Moreover, Donald John is a man of vanity. Whatever his current cognitive abilities, he KNOWS that the effects of his policies will linger years, decades and perhaps even centuries after he leaves the White House for the last time either standing up or in an ambulance. And unlike the lazy-@$$ voters who sat out 2024, he knows it, even if they don’t.

[V850i]

4. He doesn't need nor want to

He is taking his revenge, getting wealthy along with his friends. He is also pushing the country to learn to conform to his image along with his character traits. Most importantly and impactful for all of us, he is not running for re-election, he will appoint his successor when the time comes, and that person will take over after we have our Russian style election in 2028.

[Justice matters.]

5. Wait until car companies file for bankruptcy and calls to bail them out again...

with the taxpayers credit card...

[LiberalLovinLug]

6. Why is anyone surprised? He kept his promise. He was a dictator on day one.

I think he is confident that his plan is in place, and it doesn't matter if Americans vote or don't vote. Its all rigged. And getting more rigged. Until it will impossible for him to lose in 2026. No matter what the "fake" polls say.

He's chipping away at corrupting all institutions of law and order, of oversight.

Honestly, I think that the founders did not foresee this kind of beast. Of course they couldn't foresee how politically powerful social media and conspiracy theories spread on them would be used to prop him up.

[popsdenver]

7. EXACTLY RIGHT

The Republicans and Trump knew their "fix" was in, even before the 2024 election.......

He is now starting to kick even his MAGAot, Trumphumping voters to the curb, because he no longer needs them with the way the Republicans have rigged the elections and voting.

Just look at many analysts coming forth with statistical/actuarial info on particularly the Swing States vote results......Hell, Trump even openly thanked Elon Musk and his knowledge of computers helping out.......

We all know that Trump is fascinated with Hitler......Well one of Hitler's henchmen said it best:
"It matters not how people vote, but WHO is COUNTING the votes"

[11 Bravo]

8. Because he is a malignant narcissist with delusions of godhood?

Trump never admits to even simple mistakes, let alone actual wrong-doing.
Fuck him , his family, and every stupid jackass who voted for him.

[efhmc]

10. Most importantly he does not admit to mistakes to himself.

[SergeStorms]

11. Does Putin change course because of opinion polls?

Oh, that's right, there aren't any opinion polls in a dictatorship. Soon, after Trump sues every media and polling company into oblivion, there won't be any opposing views allowed here, either.
Mission accomplished.