Dem
47
GOP
53
The hits just keep coming for Donald Trump. Although, by "hits," we really mean "kicks"... in the balls.
Yesterday, we noted some pretty bad approval rating polls for him. Today, we are going to highlight some even worse approval rating polls. Here they are:
| Pollster | Approve | Disapprove | Net |
| AP/NORC | 36% | 62% | -26% |
| Yahoo/YouGov | 38% | 58% | -20% |
| Quinnipiac | 37% | 56% | -19% |
| NBC/SurveyMonkey | 39% | 61% | -22% |
We actually had the YouGov poll yesterday, but we want to put all four of these together in one place because, in all cases, this is the worst number Trump's gotten this cycle from that pollster. It is exceedingly improbable that all three of the new pollsters we've added today, and the three we wrote about yesterday, are all wrong. Clearly, Trump is at or near the lowest ebb of his second term (and with the potential to go lower).
Last week, we wrote that it was difficult for us to imagine what might turn things around for Trump, and allow him to get back into, say, the mid-to-high 40s (in other words, a 10-point improvement). We asked readers for their thoughts; those responses almost all fell into three broad categories. A selection:
The 9/11 Condition
I.S. in Durango, CO, writes: What could lift Trump's approval rating? A terrorist attack on a target within the U.S., one that kills Americans. It worked for George W. Bush, who went from 51% to 86% approval immediately after 9/11, and his ratings were 80% or higher until March 2002. If I were more cynical, I would expect this administration to engineer a modest attack sometime in late July or early August—but even this corrupt, depraved regime wouldn't do that, right? RIGHT?
J.M. in Chicago, IL, writes: The only thing I can think of is a terrorist attack on the U.S. (as opposed to a terrier attack, which is what artificial "intelligence" thought I was typing), which plausibly could happen, because: (1) The Kristi and Donnie mob are incompetent; and/or (2) Donnie is so depraved, I believe he would not be opposed to letting a known-to-U.S.-intelligence attack happen to boost his ratings and detract from his connections to his good friend Epstein.
R.A. in Savannah, GA, writes: The only thing I can imagine turning the tide is a rally-round-the-flag effect where the U.S. was the target, not the aggressor—something 9/11-like.
I don't know how this administration could pull that off. I'm cynical enough to believe they'd absolutely sacrifice a few thousand Americans for political gain, but this administration is an extended Benny Hill skit, so I'm having trouble picturing them actually planning and pulling it off without one of them unintentionally DMing plan details to Matt Gertz, instead of Matt Gaetz (who gets the plan because Pete H. tells a confederate to send it to "our guy from Florida" because he can't remember Marco Rubio's name once he's more than 4 drinks in).
The Trump-Stops-Being-Trump Condition
J.S. in Columbia, MO, writes: Very few of us "get" Donald Trump. One thing he could do to improve his approval points is to have an emotional "Fireside Chat." A sort of emotional housecleaning as he reaches a milestone (age of 80). He could explain how he desperately craved his father's approval and did not fully receive it. He could discuss how the rude nicknames he gives people are because he is insecure in spite of boasting he's the best at everything. A nice touch would be to explain why he vehemently hates the Obamas—they are the antithesis of how he views Black people. Showing such vulnerability will endear him to many people, especially to those who have had toxic relationships with their parents. Don't think this will happen, though one can only hope...
T.L.W. in Omaha, NE, writes: What if Trump forces his controversial cabinet members to step down, and cuts back on his rhetoric on major unpopular issues?
S.N. in Charlotte, NC, writes: The only thing(s) I can see resulting in a 10-point swing back to the Trumpublicans would be Trump's cancelling his entire tariff plan (all of them rescinded and refunded), firing Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem, and Kegstand, and the full decommission of ICE. Ain't gonna happen, but that's his only hope.
R.O. in Portland, ME, writes: I dunno, a prime-time Jim Bakker tearful confess-all, where he's found Jesus, tells Congress to levy huge taxes on billionaires, and sends everybody a check for $5,000?
Or resigns because of his health, and asks the country to pray for him, and Melania, and Barron.
That's all I got.
P.R. in Nashville, TN, writes: If Trump magically made it easier for good, hard-working, tax-paying immigrants to become U.S. citizens, it might make it easier for the GOP to win seats in 2026. And it would be a win for all of us. I don't see it happening, but maybe Democrats can make it happen in 2028!
T.B. in Nowata, OK, writes: He could pass and enact Universal Healthcare, Medicare for all.
The Death Condition
O.K. in Boston, MA, writes: While I agree it's hard to think of something that could increase Trump's approval rating by 10 points, an assassination of a popular right-wing pundit just before the election would definitely fire up the people on the right and bring them out to vote. Remember how amped up they were after Charlie Kirk's killing?
M.M. San Diego, CA, writes: Another assassination attempt 2 weeks before the midterms might infuriate the right sufficiently to turn out those who typically don't vote in midterms.
A.H. in Newberg, OR, writes: I am not espousing this as a recommendation, nor do I particularly want to see this happen, BUT the only thing/way I can see a 10 point rise for the current presi-dunce would be his demise!
B.P. in Asheville, NC, writes: You've opened yourself up to that one: If he croaks, it will easily add ten points to his popularity.
C.L.T. in Delaware, OH, writes: The only way I think Trump could add 10 points to his approval rating is a Stage IV terminal cancer diagnosis where he stays president through his treatment. (I am not wishing cancer on him at all, which I'm assuming is understood). That 10 points would be all sympathy approval rating gains. I see no policy decision that he could make. If he did a 180 on all of his policies, any gain in approval by one set of people would probably be a drop in approval by a different set of people. And a large percentage of the country will never approve of him.
We think that pretty well covers it. Either pigs fly, there's a generational incident of violence/disease, or he's not bouncing back. (Z)