The State of the Union Will Be Even Worse Than Trump’s Polling Numbers
People are fed up—do they even notice?
Log In
Email *
Password *
Remember Me
Forgot Your Password?
Log In
New to The Nation? Subscribe
Print subscriber? Activate your online access
Skip to content Skip to footer
The State of the Union Will Be Even Worse Than Trump’s Polling Numbers
Magazine
Newsletters
Subscribe
Log In
Search
Subscribe
Donate
Magazine
Latest
Archive
Podcasts
Newsletters
Sections
Politics
World
Economy
Culture
Books & the Arts
The Nation
About
Events
Contact Us
Advertise
Current Issue
Politics
/ February 24, 2026
The State of the Union Will Be Even Worse Than Trump’s Polling Numbers
What’s a flopping demagogue to do? Lash out at his enemies, pretend he’s doing great, and bore us all into submission.
Jeet Heer
Share
Copy Link
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Bluesky Pocket
Email
Ad Policy
Donald Trump at the White House on February 23, 2026.
(Aaron Schwartz / CNP / Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Donald Trump’s State of the Union address tonight promises to be a tedious exercise in boasting about imaginary achievements and berating political foes. We know this for two reasons: first, because, no matter who is president, the State of the Union is practically by definition a tedious exercise in boasting about imaginary achievements and berating political foes; and second, because Trump is facing serious political setbacks and is responding to them by amping up his vainglorious self-celebration.
Trump gave his version of a sneak preview for the speech on Monday “So we have a country that’s now doing well,” he said at the White House. “We have the greatest economy we’ve ever had. We have the most activity we’ve ever had. I’m making a speech tomorrow night, and you’ll be hearing me say that. It’s going to be a long speech, because we have so much to talk about.”
Since Trump has never favored brevity, his foreshadowing of a “long speech” feels like a threat more than an enticement. Perhaps he’s hoping that droning on will lull the American people into forgetting that they really don’t like him.
Trump might feel like the economy is gangbusters, but that’s a minority position in the country. According to a Washington Post/ABC News/IPSOS poll released on Sunday, 57 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, 64 percent his handling of tariffs, and 65 percent his handling of inflation.
Summing up this polling, the Post records a near-record level of public dissatisfaction:
Americans remain generally sour about his performance, with majorities disapproving of his handling of priority initiatives while saying he has overreached the authority of his office…
The president’s approval rating stands at 39 percent positive and 60 percent negative, including 47 percent who say they strongly disapprove.
Not to be outdone, CNN reports, “Among political independents, Trump’s approval rating has dropped 15 points over the past year to 26%, the lowest it’s been in either of his terms.” Trump has also suffered sharp declines among Latinos and young voters.
Current Issue
March 2026 Issue
The polling tells a consistent story. Trump’s only robust support comes from the GOP base (though even this group’s approval is slowly …
People are fed up—do they even notice?
Log In
Email *
Password *
Remember Me
Forgot Your Password?
Log In
New to The Nation? Subscribe
Print subscriber? Activate your online access
Skip to content Skip to footer
The State of the Union Will Be Even Worse Than Trump’s Polling Numbers
Magazine
Newsletters
Subscribe
Log In
Search
Subscribe
Donate
Magazine
Latest
Archive
Podcasts
Newsletters
Sections
Politics
World
Economy
Culture
Books & the Arts
The Nation
About
Events
Contact Us
Advertise
Current Issue
Politics
/ February 24, 2026
The State of the Union Will Be Even Worse Than Trump’s Polling Numbers
What’s a flopping demagogue to do? Lash out at his enemies, pretend he’s doing great, and bore us all into submission.
Jeet Heer
Share
Copy Link
X (Twitter)
Bluesky Pocket
Ad Policy
Donald Trump at the White House on February 23, 2026.
(Aaron Schwartz / CNP / Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Donald Trump’s State of the Union address tonight promises to be a tedious exercise in boasting about imaginary achievements and berating political foes. We know this for two reasons: first, because, no matter who is president, the State of the Union is practically by definition a tedious exercise in boasting about imaginary achievements and berating political foes; and second, because Trump is facing serious political setbacks and is responding to them by amping up his vainglorious self-celebration.
Trump gave his version of a sneak preview for the speech on Monday “So we have a country that’s now doing well,” he said at the White House. “We have the greatest economy we’ve ever had. We have the most activity we’ve ever had. I’m making a speech tomorrow night, and you’ll be hearing me say that. It’s going to be a long speech, because we have so much to talk about.”
Since Trump has never favored brevity, his foreshadowing of a “long speech” feels like a threat more than an enticement. Perhaps he’s hoping that droning on will lull the American people into forgetting that they really don’t like him.
Trump might feel like the economy is gangbusters, but that’s a minority position in the country. According to a Washington Post/ABC News/IPSOS poll released on Sunday, 57 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, 64 percent his handling of tariffs, and 65 percent his handling of inflation.
Summing up this polling, the Post records a near-record level of public dissatisfaction:
Americans remain generally sour about his performance, with majorities disapproving of his handling of priority initiatives while saying he has overreached the authority of his office…
The president’s approval rating stands at 39 percent positive and 60 percent negative, including 47 percent who say they strongly disapprove.
Not to be outdone, CNN reports, “Among political independents, Trump’s approval rating has dropped 15 points over the past year to 26%, the lowest it’s been in either of his terms.” Trump has also suffered sharp declines among Latinos and young voters.
Current Issue
March 2026 Issue
The polling tells a consistent story. Trump’s only robust support comes from the GOP base (though even this group’s approval is slowly …
The State of the Union Will Be Even Worse Than Trump’s Polling Numbers
People are fed up—do they even notice?
Log In
Email *
Password *
Remember Me
Forgot Your Password?
Log In
New to The Nation? Subscribe
Print subscriber? Activate your online access
Skip to content Skip to footer
The State of the Union Will Be Even Worse Than Trump’s Polling Numbers
Magazine
Newsletters
Subscribe
Log In
Search
Subscribe
Donate
Magazine
Latest
Archive
Podcasts
Newsletters
Sections
Politics
World
Economy
Culture
Books & the Arts
The Nation
About
Events
Contact Us
Advertise
Current Issue
Politics
/ February 24, 2026
The State of the Union Will Be Even Worse Than Trump’s Polling Numbers
What’s a flopping demagogue to do? Lash out at his enemies, pretend he’s doing great, and bore us all into submission.
Jeet Heer
Share
Copy Link
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Bluesky Pocket
Email
Ad Policy
Donald Trump at the White House on February 23, 2026.
(Aaron Schwartz / CNP / Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Donald Trump’s State of the Union address tonight promises to be a tedious exercise in boasting about imaginary achievements and berating political foes. We know this for two reasons: first, because, no matter who is president, the State of the Union is practically by definition a tedious exercise in boasting about imaginary achievements and berating political foes; and second, because Trump is facing serious political setbacks and is responding to them by amping up his vainglorious self-celebration.
Trump gave his version of a sneak preview for the speech on Monday “So we have a country that’s now doing well,” he said at the White House. “We have the greatest economy we’ve ever had. We have the most activity we’ve ever had. I’m making a speech tomorrow night, and you’ll be hearing me say that. It’s going to be a long speech, because we have so much to talk about.”
Since Trump has never favored brevity, his foreshadowing of a “long speech” feels like a threat more than an enticement. Perhaps he’s hoping that droning on will lull the American people into forgetting that they really don’t like him.
Trump might feel like the economy is gangbusters, but that’s a minority position in the country. According to a Washington Post/ABC News/IPSOS poll released on Sunday, 57 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, 64 percent his handling of tariffs, and 65 percent his handling of inflation.
Summing up this polling, the Post records a near-record level of public dissatisfaction:
Americans remain generally sour about his performance, with majorities disapproving of his handling of priority initiatives while saying he has overreached the authority of his office…
The president’s approval rating stands at 39 percent positive and 60 percent negative, including 47 percent who say they strongly disapprove.
Not to be outdone, CNN reports, “Among political independents, Trump’s approval rating has dropped 15 points over the past year to 26%, the lowest it’s been in either of his terms.” Trump has also suffered sharp declines among Latinos and young voters.
Current Issue
March 2026 Issue
The polling tells a consistent story. Trump’s only robust support comes from the GOP base (though even this group’s approval is slowly …
0 Comments
0 Shares
35 Views
0 Reviews
