Trump Suddenly Slips in 3 Brutal New Polls—and Musk Looks Even Worse
Feb 21, 2025
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In this insightful discussion, political scientist Julia Azari, a writer for the Substack 'Good Politics, Bad Politics,' examines the recent surge of disapproval for both Trump and Musk. She analyzes three major polls revealing public backlash against Trump's authoritarian approach and Musk's similar tactics. Azari suggests that Democrats have a unique opportunity to confront this autocratic trend more aggressively. With rising voter discontent, she emphasizes the need for counter-narratives and a strategic shift in Democratic messaging as election dynamics evolve.
Recent polls indicate that a majority of Americans are increasingly rejecting Trump's authoritarian governance, highlighting a significant shift in public sentiment against executive overreach.
Elon Musk's low approval ratings reflect widespread skepticism about his role in Trump's administration, complicating efforts to normalize authoritarian tendencies in governance.
Deep dives
Public Disapproval of Trump's Actions
Recent national polls indicate that public disapproval of President Trump's job performance is growing, with majorities expressing concern about his authoritarian governing tactics. While CNN reports a 47% approval rating, Gallup and the Washington Post show even lower support, emphasizing a significant portion of the population opposing Trump's actions during his presidency. Specifically, a majority believes that he has overstepped his authority, with 66% stating he should not freeze funding without congressional approval. These figures suggest that many Americans are increasingly aware of and rejecting the potential dangers of executive overreach.
The Emergence of an Anti-Authoritarian Sentiment
The podcast discusses an emerging anti-authoritarian majority among voters who are now recognizing and criticizing Trump's executive actions. Polls reveal that many Americans did not grasp the implications of Trump's governance until they experienced its consequences firsthand. This shift in perception reflects a notable backlash against perceived authoritarianism, with a majority of respondents indicating discomfort with Trump's attempts to concentrate power. However, the discussion highlights that despite this awareness, there remains a lack of a cohesive political narrative to unite these sentiments and push for actionable change.
Elon Musk's Role in Trump's Administration
Elon Musk's involvement in Trump's administration is also met with significant public skepticism, as recent data shows that only 34% approve of his actions. Concerns center around Musk's unrestricted power, his controversial public persona, and the possible implications for government transparency and cybersecurity. The polling indicates that many citizens are uneasy about the administration's reliance on high-profile figures like Musk, especially given past instances of executive overreach. This dynamic complicates Trump's strategy, as public awareness of Musk's controversial nature may undermine attempts to normalize authoritarian governance.
Three new national polls—from CNN, Gallup, and The Washington Post—show that President Donald Trump’s job approval is decidedly underwater. Importantly, the polls also show majorities rejecting Trump’s authoritarian governance. And Elon Musk, who’s carrying out Trump’s most autocratic designs, fares even worse. Are we finally seeing a real public backlash to Trump’s authoritarianism, the one that was supposed to materialize during the election, but didn’t? If so, what does that mean for how Democrats should proceed? We talked to political scientist Julia Azari, who writes on these matters for her “Good Politics, Bad Politics” Substack, about why Democrats have an opening to run harder against Trump-Musk autocratic overreach—and what that might look like.