Reference News Network, December 19 report: The U.S. "Wall Street Journal" website published an article titled "The Alarm Has Rung, Have You Heard?" on December 17. The author is Karl Rove, a senior advisor during the presidency of George W. Bush and former White House deputy chief of staff. The following is a partial translation:
For most people, it's a joyous time with the sound of bells ringing, but for the White House, the alarm is deafening. The various mistakes of this administration may lead to a significant setback for President Trump's party in the 2026 midterm elections.
According to comprehensive polls from the U.S. "OpenSecrets" website, Trump's approval rating is 43.6%. In terms of the economy, the most important issue for voters, his performance has only received 40.7% approval, and his support rate on inflation issues is as low as 35%.
Facing a major crisis in the Republican midterm election prospects, the president's advisory team has restarted the campaign mode. Last Tuesday, they arranged for Trump to attend a rally at a casino in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Trump thoroughly enjoys the enthusiastic atmosphere and the adoration of supporters at the rallies. The audience was packed with loyal supporters who eagerly listened to every word he said, immersed in a passionate political carnival.
Given the current approval ratings, Trump should focus on strengthening public trust in his administration. But for him, it's hard to resist the fun of digressing and making jokes at the rallies.
Trump did say, "Nothing is more important than making life affordable for Americans," but he seems unwilling to propose further reform plans. He insisted that "high prices are caused by the Democrats," and then mocked the issue of living costs as "nonsense."
Trump has always looked down on Biden, yet now he is repeating the same mistake as this former president. When Biden and his allies claimed that "Biden's economics have been effective," American citizens were struggling under inflation pressure, which made their statements seem out of touch with reality. Now, Trump is making the same mistake.
If Trump could focus on core issues at the rallies, he might eventually convey a truly reassuring message to voters. But instead, he spent most of his speech talking idly and even said that his favorite word is "tariffs."
The president must stop such absurd behavior. With about 10 months remaining until the election when voters will decide the governing framework of his remaining two years in office, these current actions of the president are wasting precious time that should have been used to persuade anyone who might vote for the Republicans. (Translated by Wu Mei)
Original: toutiao.com/article/7585403774781424155/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.