There's a real story here beyond partisan noise the numbers and the pattern of controversies are documented, even if interpretation splits along party lines.
Approval numbers are cratering. Pew's July survey put Trump at 34 percent approval, lower than most recent presidents at comparable points in their terms, with a 78-point partisan approval gap. The erosion has come mostly from Republicans and GOP-leaning independents, approval among that group fell from 84 percent in February 2025 to 69% now. Gallup's tracker shows similar softness, with 37 percent approving of his economic handling in July and August alike, and just 38% approving on education. One tracker links the slide directly to tariff-driven inflation, noting the approval drop from 47% at inauguration tracks almost perfectly with rising economic anxiety as tariff-driven price increases hit consumers through Q1 and Q2. Pew Research Center + 3
The election-interference story is the sharpest edge. Democratic-aligned watchdogs point to a pattern: Trump reportedly told an audience in January "I won't say cancel the election; they should cancel the election," followed a week later by "we shouldn't even have an election," and in August signaled openness to declaring a national emergency to curb voting access. A leaked 17-page draft executive order, developed by election deniers and reportedly given to the White House, proposed using a declared national emergency over alleged foreign interference to bar most mail voting and require in-person reregistration nationwide. The DOJ has also sent letters to election officials in all 50 states threatening prosecution over noncitizen voting, which watchdogs argue chills election administration itself. Center for American Progress + 2
Financial entanglements remain an open wound. Oversight inquiries into Trump's financial conflicts and crypto dealings are still active, with Democratic lawmakers requesting disclosure records and watchdog groups litigating emoluments claims in a judiciary that's shifted rightward under his appointments. Political
Global standing has taken a hit. International surveys show a marked decline in how other countries view the U.S. and its reliability as a partner, with poor marks on tariffs and conflict-handling, though the administration and its supporters argue the tougher, unconventional posture actually advances American interests. FactuallyFactually
Now the other side of the ledger, because it matters for a fair picture: The White House points to falling violent crime numbers as a "Trump effect," though independent analysts note the decline predates his return to office. Republicans overwhelmingly still back him at 93 percent approval in that base per Gallup, and administration allies frame the aggressive posture on immigration, tariffs, and foreign policy as delivering on mandate promises rather than "blowing things up." The Trump-Carlson rift and other intra-coalition friction suggest even his base isn't monolithic on strategy, which cuts against a simple "self-destruction" narrative, this looks more like a fracturing coalition than a lone figure imploding.
https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/best-of-the-week/honorable-mention/2…
