“Trumped Up: Approval or just Amnesia?

With the 2020 presidential election still looming large on the horizon, many Americans have been discussing the ways in which President Donald Trump’s image has changed over the past few years. While opinions remain sharply divided between those who approve of his incumbency and those who strongly disapprove, most can agree that Trump’s public image has undeniably undergone a transformation since his election in 2016. For those who like him, this improved image is a sign of public approval, and indicates that more voters are beginning to appreciate the fervor and passion with which President Trump approaches his job. His rhetoric around national issues has grown increasingly confident, and it is not uncommon to hear him vocally taking credit for innovative policies or economic successes as commander-in-chief. His detractors, however, will often point to this improved image as a sign of something far less desirable: an apparent case of public amnesia, where the American electorate has either forgotten or chosen to purposefully ignore Trump’s past missteps and controversial behavior. Indeed, many of the same elements making Trump more popular with his base of supporters are precisely the same ones that have earned him criticism from the majority of the population. For instance, his abrasive, often hostile attitude towards journalists and the press in general has remained steady and unwavering, despite its adversarial approach. However, the public’s reception to the President has been more positive since mid-2019. Some argue that this has been due to economic growth and a more cohesive foreign policy strategy, whereas others attribute it to political fatigue and an overall apathy towards politics. It will be interesting to see how this shift in public opinion continues to impact the upcoming 2020 presidential election. What appears certain, however, is that there will be no single explanation as to why Trump’s image has improved; his approval has likely been the product of a yoga-like balancing act between his successes and failures, approval and opposition. And, whatever the outcome in the end, it will remain only one element of a much broader story.