When Are We Going to Get Tired of Winning, or are we the people sick and tired of the constant Republican Party whining rhetoric?
Are we there yet? That's the question behind two of Donald Trump's most recognizable campaign promises:
"Make America Great Again" (MAGA).
"You're going to get tired of winning."
Both became recurring political slogans, particularly during his 2016 campaign and subsequent campaigns.
There is an important distinction between counting campaign appearances, speeches, advertisements and social media posts, and counting the actual words spoken. There is no single authoritative lifetime transcript tally covering all of them.
The record, in black and white:
September 25, 2015: At an Oklahoma City rally, Trump promised Americans would win so much they would become "sick and tired of winning." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHsMQj9P0AI
February 2016: He repeated the promise at a South Carolina rally.
August 12, 2016: At an Erie, Pennsylvania, rally, he repeated it again, followed by the promise to make America great again.
November 5, 2016: In Reno, Nevada, he again promised Americans would get tired of winning.
November 6, 2019: As president, he revived the routine, asking a Louisiana crowd whether anyone was tired of winning.
The American Presidency Project +1
These are documented examples, not a complete count.
So, how many times?
The honest answer is that there is no verified comprehensive count of either slogan across all Trump's speeches, rallies, interviews, advertisements and social media posts.
Researchers at the National Bureau of Economic Research analyzed 102 Trump speeches between 2015 and September 2024, illustrating how a systematic count could be conducted, but they did not publish a tally of these two particular slogans.
National Bureau of Economic Research +1
And here's the question worth asking:
When does winning become more than a campaign slogan?
When do Americans measure success not by applause at rallies, but by their paychecks, healthcare, housing costs, public safety, economic security, international standing and confidence in their democracy?
Perhaps the better question isn't whether we're tired of winning.
It's whether we're getting what we were promised.
Are we there yet?
That's a question every American has to answer by looking beyond the slogans and examining the results.
Trump promised a country that would win so much Americans would get tired of winning. But winning for whom, and measured by what?
The meaningful test is whether ordinary Americans are experiencing improvements in their everyday lives.
As of November 14, 2026, the available evidence tells a sobering story:
What Americans are saying
66% Say the country is on the wrong track.
Economist/YouGov poll, November 4–6, 2026; 3,166 registered voters.
CloudFront
32% Approve of Trump's job performance.
Reuters/Ipsos poll, November 6–9, 2026; 1,705 U.S. adults.
Reuters
6.5% Annual wholesale inflation in October.
Associated Press report, November 14, 2026.
AP News
So, are we tired of winning?
The polls suggest that many Americans are dissatisfied. They don't tell us exactly why every individual feels that way, but they provide an important measure of public sentiment.
And perhaps this is the line worth remembering:
America doesn't need to win every argument. America needs its people to win at life.
That's what We the People should be measuring.
Americans and industries are benefiting, but the gains are unevenly distributed.
And it isn't just the wealthiest 1%. There are identifiable groups benefiting from the Trump administration's policies. The important question is how many benefit, how much they gain, and who pays for it.
Who is benefiting?
Why small businesses are optimistic amid uncertainty
1. Small-business owners and entrepreneurs
Owners of qualifying pass-through businesses benefit from lower individual tax rates and deductions for business income and investment. Not every small business qualifies equally.
Congressional Budget Office
2. Oil, gas and fossil-fuel companies
Deregulation, favorable energy policies and federal investment in petroleum infrastructure benefit parts of the traditional energy industry.
Department of Energy+1
xAI: Musk wendet sich an private Kreditgeber, um neue Rechenzentren zu finanzieren - Hardwareluxx
3. Technology companies and data-center investors
Companies investing in computing infrastructure benefit from accelerated business investment deductions and other tax provisions.
Congressional Budget Office+1
Stephen Lewis - Lifestyle photography for NORMS Restaurants - Los Angeles, CA
4. Certain tipped and overtime workers
Workers who qualify can benefit from new deductions for eligible tips and overtime income. These are real benefits, although eligibility and income limits apply.
Kiplinger+1
5. Wealthy families and heirs
Higher estate-tax exemptions allow more wealth to pass between generations without federal estate taxation.
Congressional Budget Office+1
The Congressional Budget Office and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy offer two important perspectives.
-
CBO: The 2025 tax legislation increases resources for middle- and upper-income households on average, while the lowest-income households lose resources, largely because of reductions in Medicaid and SNAP benefits. Congressional Budget Office
- ITEP: Its October 2026 analysis finds that, after accounting for tax changes and rising household costs, the richest 1% are the only income group benefiting overall. It estimates the middle fifth faces an additional $1,700 in taxes and costs in 2026. ITEP+1
These analyses measure different things: the effects of the tax legislation alone versus a broader combination of policies and costs.
Who is paying for the benefits enjoyed by others?
- Families facing higher healthcare costs.
- Low-income households losing food assistance.
- Consumers absorbing import tariffs.
- Taxpayers financing larger federal deficits.
- Future generations inheriting the consequences of today's fiscal decisions.
That is an important part of the American economic debate.
Perhaps it's time to rewrite the slogan:
Make America Great Again should mean making life better for the greatest number of Americans, not simply increasing the wealth of those who already have the most.
And that's a question worth asking of every administration, Republican or Democrat.
Yes indeed but which party has had control for a couple of years?
The Republican Party. Donald Trump and the GOP have controlled all three branches of elected federal government since January 20, 2025.
Here's the timeline: Republican control
White House
Donald Trump, since Jan. 20, 2025
Senate
Republican majority since Jan. 3, 2025
House
Republican majority since Jan. 3, 2025
U.S. Senate+2
That's nearly 22 months of unified Republican government as of November 14, 2026.
One important new development: Democrats won control of both chambers in the November 2026 midterm elections, but the new Congress does not take office until January 3, 2027.
AP News+1
So let's be clear about accountability:
- Republicans controlled the legislative agenda.
- Republicans passed the administration's major tax and spending legislation.
- Republicans controlled congressional oversight.
- Trump led the executive branch.
That doesn't mean every Republican supported every policy, or that Democrats had no influence. But the governing responsibility rests primarily with the party holding power.
And that brings us back to our original question:
If Republicans have had the presidency, House and Senate for nearly two years, who should Americans have held accountable for the results?
That's what We the People ought to be focusing on until January 3 2027.