A wave of new polling data and a blunt warning from media personality Megyn Kelly suggest President Donald Trump’s second-term support is reaching a critical breaking point.
The latest Fox News Poll shows the president’s approval rating at a near-record low of 42%, while separate data released by the Associated Press (AP) paints an even grimmer picture, placing his overall job approval at just 33%.
The collapse in support is particularly stark among independent voters. On Thursday’s episode of SiriusXM’s The Megyn Kelly Show, Kelly offered a scathing assessment of the administration’s standing with the center of the electorate.
“When you look at the cross tabs in the all-important independent voters, Trump has cratered,” Kelly told her audience. “It’s like not even present tense anymore. It’s done!”
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Independents Desert the Administration
The data cited by Kelly indicates that only 23% of independents currently approve of the president’s performance. The dissatisfaction is driven largely by the administration’s handling of the economy and a controversial foreign policy agenda.
According to the AP data, independent approval for the administration’s economic management has dropped to 19%, while support regarding the cost of living has plummeted to 12%.
Kelly pointed to the ongoing conflict in Iran, which she described as a “war of choice,” as a primary catalyst for the decline. The polling shows that only 21% of independents support the war. “Democrat or Republican—you got 80% of the independents against you? You’re effed!” Kelly said. “You need to adjust something ASAP.”
Economic Pain at the Pump and the Pantry
The Fox News Poll reinforces these findings, showing that 70% of all registered voters believe the economy is getting worse. For the average American family, the “pain” is no longer theoretical:
- Gas Prices: 60% of voters now call gas prices a “major problem,” a massive jump from 33% in September.
- Grocery Prices: 62% say the cost of food is a major burden.
- Foreign Policy Fallout: Approval for the president’s handling of Iran sits at just 37% overall.
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Kelly warned that while the economic impact of the Iran conflict was felt first in Europe, American consumers are now feeling the weight at the pump and through rising energy costs. “The problem is he was underwater with these folks on the economy and cost of living inflation prior to the Iran war,” Kelly noted. “And then we launched a war of choice that was not necessary.”
Outlook for the GOP
The administration’s perceived effectiveness is also under fire. The Fox News Poll found that 56% of voters do not believe the government is being run competently, and 60% say the president lacks the necessary temperament for the office.
With the November elections on the horizon, the political landscape is shifting. Motivation is high, with 60% of voters saying they are “extremely motivated” to cast a ballot. However, the generic congressional ballot currently favors Democrats 52% to 47%.
Kelly stressed that the current trajectory is unsustainable for the Republican Party. She urged an immediate shift in strategy before the “full economic weight” of current policies hits American cities and further alienates the remaining centrist voters.
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