Democrats have been praying that the economic pain some are feeling with the surge in tariffs will “collapse” support for President Donald Trump, but a key polling indicator suggests that the wait could be a long one if it ever comes.
Kept high by strong and sustained GOP and MAGA support, Trump’s daily approval rating tracked by Rasmussen Reports registered 52% on Friday for a second straight day.
That is the president’s highest approval rating since Democratic critic James Carville predicted that Trump’s approval would crater later this month due to his flurry of executive actions, including cutting bureaucrats and threatening tariffs.
Carville, on Feb. 21, said, “I believe that this administration, in less than 30 days, is in the midst of a massive collapse, and particularly a collapse in public opinion.”
He urged Democrats to “play possum” and wait for the collapse. “It’s going to be easy pickings here in six weeks,” he told MSNBC’s Dan Abrams.
But Rasmussen pollster Mark Mitchell said that there has been no sign of softening support for Trump and that on Feb. 21, Trump was at 51% approval-47% disapproval, a point less than today.
In fact, he has been mocking Carville’s prediction on X as well as others misreading the polling trend.
Trump’s approval average has been strong despite concerns about inflation and his recent push on tariffs that the media has predicted will crush the economy.
Trump has been urging the public to wait out the immediate economic pain because he and his team believe it will lead to an economic and stock market boom later this year.
Of particular interest to the White House is how Trump supporters are reacting. By most indications, they have dug in as much as Trump in backing his agenda on the economy, immigration and foreign policy.
Just yesterday, Mitchell said that the “strong approval” rating of Trump from Republicans was 68%. “That’s astronomical,” he told Secrets.
SEE THE LATEST POLITICAL NEWS AND BUZZ FROM WASHINGTON SECRETS
It was 10 points less at this point in Trump’s first term. And, said Mitchell, it was a high of 68% on Inauguration Day in January, and Republican support remains as high today.
“The takeaway is GOP strong approval is near record highs, and he’s maintaining it way better than the first time around,” said Mitchell. “Republicans like what they see.”