US President Donald Trump is facing a serious decline in popularity less than two years after his election victory. According to an article published in the New York Times, the political and cultural momentum that followed the 2024 elections has given way to disappointment.
In the analysis by journalist David Wallace-Wells, it is stated that the post-election rhetoric of Trump and his supporters is increasingly losing its impact.
Economic policies and inflation pressure
According to the article, Trump's economic policies, particularly those based on tariffs, have led to a new wave of inflation. While the government reform project ended in failure, harsh campaigns against immigrants across the country drew backlash even among voters who support border security.
Iran war and foreign policy criticism
Military operations against Iran have also damaged Trump's image as an anti-war leader. The analysis emphasized that these operations have increased oil prices and revealed the weaknesses of the US military power. The New York Times writer described the way the war ended as "humiliating."
Young people and minorities withdraw support
The decline reflected in polls is not limited to independent voters. Significant losses are also occurring among groups that Republicans see as the future of the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement. Support for Trump among young people has dropped by as much as 50 points in some polls, while declines have also been recorded among Black and Latino voters, as well as the traditional support base of the white working class.
Loss of cultural hegemony
The writer argued that conservatives' dominance in the cultural sphere has also weakened. Major events planned for the celebrations of the 250th anniversary of US independence failed to attract prominent artists, and some participants withdrew from the program. The organization of a mixed martial arts event at the White House also drew widespread criticism.
However, the article also noted that some effects of the MAGA era persist, such as the decline of diversity programs, the increasing influence of technology and artificial intelligence companies, and the rise of conservative rhetoric on identity and gender issues within the Republican Party.
Wallace-Wells wrote that election victories and party successes do not indicate a fundamental change in the identity of American society, and that many people exaggerated Trump's win by seeing it as a permanent transformation in the country's direction.
