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Are Voters Souring on the Trump Economy?

Trump is starting to pay a price for ignoring the issue that got him elected.

Dan Pfeiffer

Feb 28

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For all the hand-wringing and debate about Joe Biden’s presidency and the various tactical decisions made by the Harris campaign, Donald Trump is president right now for a simple reason: the economy — and more precisely — high prices. People trusted Trump more on that issue. The swing voters who ultimately voted for Trump were not naive about his flaws or the danger he posed, but looked past those concerns because of their fond memories of the pre-COVID economy during his first term.

Of course, Trump failed to strengthen the economy back then. In the greatest of ironies, he rode the coattails of the economy that Barack Obama built. His only legislative accomplishment of note was a massive tax giveaway that overwhelmingly went to the wealthy and corporations. The tax law ballooned the deficit, stalled job creation, and much of the money was given to investors as stock buybacks.Because of his long career as a fake business tycoon on reality television, Trump retained the aura of someone who understood the economy.

Live by the sword, die by the sword.

A month into his presidency, voters are starting to sour on Trump’s economy. This is driving his approval numbers down and making the rest of his controversial agenda more difficult to swallow. Voters will put up with a lot if it will make their personal financial situation better. As soon as they doubt that fundamental proposition, the house of cards tumbles down.

Trump is headed for the ground.

1. Voters Don’t Like Trump’s Economy

Prior to the election, the Democratic Party was debating why voters were so sour on the economy. There was a contingent that repeatedly argued the economy was great and the negative perceptions were the result of partisan polarization, bad media coverage and poor messaging from Democrats. These folks claimed that polling on the economy would change after Trump took office. Republicans who hated the economy under Biden would love it under Trump.

Lo and behold, that didn’t happen...