By Al Edwards 

There is always a honeymoon period and then the tide turns.

Donald Trump won the US presidency last November in a stunning election that transformed American politics. It is nine months since he began his second term as president, and it has been tumultuous to say the least.

Reflecting on his time in office since he defeated Kamala Harris and vanquished the Democrats, President Trump said: I think it’s the best nine months they say of any President. And I really believe that. If we can have a few more nine months, like this, you’ll be very happy, very satisfied.”

However, there is growing discontentment, as the cost of goods and services continues to climb, when he promised to make it a priority to bring inflation and costs down.

According to a new poll from the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs, only 33 per cent of respondents said they approved of President Trump’s management of the Federal Government. The poll found that just 68 per cent of Republican respondents said they approve of Trump’s management of the Federal Government, down from 81 per cent who said they approved in March.

Of note, only 33 per cent approved of his handling of the economy, while 67 per cent of Americans disapprove of his performance on the economy. President Trump always enjoyed a high approval of his immigration policy now that is down to 42 per cent, with 57 per cent disapproving. 

A CNN/SSRS poll released on November 3 revealed Trump’s approval rating at 37 per cent, the lowest it has been during his second term. A month after taking office, Trump’s approval rating was 47 per cent.

To the question, ‘How are things going in the United States today?’, 68 per cent of Americans said “ pretty/very badly” while 32 per cent said  “very/fairly well.” 

President Trump must now be laser-focused on the domestic economy and do what he can to bring down rising costs. He has been preoccupied with foreign affairs, particularly military tensions in Ukraine, Gaza and now Venezuela. He is seeing a resurgent Democratic Party that recently scored big victories in New York, New Jersey and Virginia.

That being said, the government shutdown did impact his popularity and performance rating and would have been reflected in these recent poll results.

Then the MAGA movement, of which Trump is its champion, seems to be splintering. There is a preoccupation with the Epstein Files; right-wing commentators like Candace Owens, Ben Shapiro, Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly are all fighting among themselves.

Only Friday (November 14), Trump publicly withdrew his support for his former ally, Marjorie Taylor Greene.

“I am withdrawing my support and endorsement of “ Congresswoman” Marjorie Taylor Greene, of the great state of Georgia. All I see “ WACKY” Marjorie do is COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN!

“Green grass turns Brown when it begins to ROT!”

President Trump is dismissive of rising inflation, instead saying it was far higher under the Democrats and that too much is being made of the issue.

Yesterday, President Trump wrote: “Cost of inflation was far higher under the Sleepy Joe Biden administration than they are now. In fact, costs under the Trump Administration are tumbling down, helped greatly by gasoline and energy. Affordability is a lie when used by the Dems. 

“It is a complete con job. Thanksgiving costs are 25 per cent lower this year than last year under Crooked Joe! We are the Party of Affordability!”