A conundrum sits in the middle of President Donald Trump’s polling numbers. On the one hand, verifiable data show that both the economy and international trade with the United States are up, and that illegal border crossings and crime are down. On the other hand, the president’s approval ratings in each of the sectors are plummeting. Certainly, part of the paradox could come from media spin or poor messaging, but perhaps the real issue is that Trump has done something no other politician has done before: broken the fourth wall.
Expectations and Experience
To quote the renowned punk band The Jam, “the public gets what the public wants.” Over the years, electorates in almost all Western nations have created a relatively consistent model of what a politician is and can do. So when an unconventional candidate comes along, he or she may be described as shattering a “glass ceiling” – moving beyond the staid and steady.
The glass ceiling was impervious to two major political stars in recent history. Hillary Clinton was immensely “qualified” to be president and yet was, to many, an entirely unlikable figure, and denigrating a significant chunk of the voting public as “deplorables” did her no favors. Similarly, former Vice President Kamala Harris was mostly held back from office because of her inability to communicate effectively and her cowardice in dealing with any media not in her camp. Their gender, perhaps common sensically, did not blind the electorate to their weaknesses.
When Trump won the presidency in 2016, he was a wrecking ball to the known world of politics. When he won again in 2024, he became precision detonation. Why then do his approval ratings not match the enthusiasm level with which he was elected?
Pulling Back the Curtain on Trump
Steady, deliberative, and cool-headed are qualities that have been lauded in any politician’s campaign ads. Successful presidents are known for presenting clear and well-laid plans to satisfy the voters who look to them for steadfast and unwavering leadership. Trump, in this aspect as well as others, is notably different. What the public sees from the commander-in-chief is often the thought process involved.
