"Several people close to Trump, who retain some emotional detachment, had been telling us privately that warning signs are everywhere. They argue that Trump projects supreme confidence, and genuinely feels it but that the polls show a clear, consistent backlash against almost everything he's doing.
A clear majority opposes his deportation policies, bellicose tone, domestic troop deployments, tariffs and overall presidency.This shows up in almost every poll, every time.
Trump has never been this far underwater on the economy, which used to be a strength of the face of "The Apprentice" franchise.
Trump devours polling and has been reading the numbers, looking at the trendlines and growing concerned about the cost of food, advisers tell Axios' Marc Caputo.
"Sometimes, it's good to touch the hot stove," an adviser said, arguing that Republicans across the board need to sharpen their senses and realize Democrats can burn them in a year.
Friction point: In an echo of President Biden's time, topline economic indicators, the stock market and unemployment rate look good. But people don't feel that way.
"The president doesn't want to sound like Biden, telling people everything is great," one adviser told Caputo. "He's not doing the Trump version of Bidenomics. So he's picking his shots."
Some of Trump's solutions or rhetoric about affordability problems, however, have downside risks. His plan to import more Argentine beef, for instance, upset U.S. cattle ranchers. And his criticism of electricity prices in New Jersey highlighted problems with his energy policy.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said Republicans have "lost any temporary progress that they've made with working-class Americans, gone. Any progress that they've made with the Hispanic community, gone. Any progress that they've made with younger Americans, gone."The bottom line: This is easily the biggest blow to Trump and Republicans since taking power. Democrats, for the first time in a long time, feel hopeful, ascendant and like winners."
Axios
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