Republican strategist Karl Rove has issued a harsh warning for Donald Trump, saying his presidency is on a dangerous path as Americans grow increasingly fed up with him.
In his recent op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, Rove argues that Trump is already losing voter support just months into his second term. He points out that voters made their priorities clear when Trump took office—lower prices and a stronger economy. However, instead of addressing these concerns, Trump has triggered a trade war that could push prices even higher. “Voters made crystal clear” what they wanted, Rove wrote, but Trump’s policies appear to be falling short.
Trump’s early moves in office have been a mix of carefully planned policies and random, half-baked ideas, according to Rove. While Trump has successfully rolled back many of the Biden administration’s regulations, he’s also pushed for changes that were never part of his campaign, like creating a “Department of Government Efficiency” and removing fluoride from drinking water.
The former deputy White House chief of staff under George W. Bush also criticized Trump’s over-reliance on executive orders. While these orders can be undone by future presidents, Trump has used them as a shortcut, bypassing the need for legislation. “And there’s something shocking about this White House to an old-school politico like me,” Rove said. “It doesn’t spend much time drawing attention to the president’s successes. Rather than patiently explaining his actions and why they’re good for Americans, the president and his advisers move from one thing to another, seemingly at random.”
Rove also warned that Trump’s obsession with retaliation could backfire. “There’s way too much retribution,” Rove said, adding that many of Trump’s revenge-driven moves will “end badly for him.” He went on to suggest that Republicans may regret setting a precedent for political retaliation, fearing it will lead to even more attacks from Democrats.
Rove also pointed to the international fallout from Trump’s leadership. In countries like Canada and Australia, opposition parties have gained ground as voters turn away from leaders too closely aligned with Trump’s brand of politics.
On the other hand, Rove didn’t let Democrats off the hook. He argued that the party is struggling to find effective leadership and a coherent message, calling out figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders as weak representatives for the party’s future. “Having them as the party’s most prominent faces now is helping Republicans,” Rove said.
As Trump’s second term continues, public opinion is already shifting. According to polling, Trump’s approval rating has dropped sharply. He started his second term with 50.5% approval, but by mid-March, that had flipped—his approval rating fell to 46.9%, with 50.3% disapproving.
Rove predicts things will only get worse for Trump, as more and more Americans turn against him. “My hunch is things will get worse before they get better,” he warned.
With Trump’s 100th day in office fast approaching, it’s clear that the public’s patience with him is running out. As Rove put it, “Americans are growing tired of him,” and unless something changes soon, this second term may end just as badly as his first.
