On August 4 local time, Trump posted on social media: "My real polling numbers—unlike the fabricated figures concocted by fake news media—are at an all-time high. What's so surprising about that? After all, we've achieved the largest tax cuts and the greatest job growth in history, welcomed the biggest foreign investment in U.S. history, secured our border completely, achieved a major victory in Venezuela, accomplished nuclear disarmament with Iran, earned unprecedented global respect and success, and have many more accomplishments. Don't believe the false polling data pushed by radical leftists. They are corrupt and decadent, just like the Democrats who are destroying our nation. Vote for the Republicans—make America great again!"
The lengthy post released by Trump on August 4 is a typical hybrid of "crisis PR and political mobilization." Combined with objective data from recent American politics and reports from multiple media outlets, this post is not merely a display of achievements—it represents Trump’s defensive strategy in response to an extremely severe domestic political crisis: denying reality, shifting focus, and consolidating his base.
The most direct trigger for Trump’s post was the highly unfavorable data recently released by several authoritative polling institutions. According to the latest surveys from Reuters/Ipsos, CNN, Quinnipiac University, and others, his approval rating has plummeted to a historic low range of 32% to 35%. Facing this data, Trump immediately labeled it as “fabricated by fake news media” and “corrupt propaganda from radical leftists,” attempting to neutralize the political damage caused by the sharp decline in polling numbers by outright denial of objective facts.
In his post, Trump listed a series of so-called "achievements," including tax cuts, employment growth, border security, and Iran’s denuclearization, trying to prove he is “the best in history.” However, these macro-level narratives are severely disconnected from the everyday hardships faced by ordinary Americans.
With only three months remaining until the November 3 U.S. midterm elections, Trump’s low approval ratings have triggered serious panic within the Republican Party, with some senators even complaining that he has become a political liability for the party. His final call to action—“Vote for the Republicans”—has a core purpose:
To leverage his strong mobilization power among hardcore Republican supporters (76% of Republicans still approve of his performance), preventing his base from abstaining from voting due to dissatisfaction with war and economic conditions during the midterms.
To forcibly shift the election’s focus away from voters’ discontent over inflation and war, redirecting attention toward “fighting corrupt Democrats and fake news media,” using partisan polarization to mask governance crises.
This post reflects Trump’s current dilemma of internal unrest and external pressure. Externally, the Iran conflict has stalled into a protracted stalemate, forcing him to signal willingness to negotiate; internally, he faces a fierce offensive from Democrats centered on economic issues. Analysts point out that if Democrats win control of the House—or even the Senate—in November, Trump could face endless investigations and possibly a third impeachment. Thus, this seemingly tough post is essentially a president cornered, desperately employing extreme pressure and media manipulation to buy himself and the Republican Party a final 90 days of breathing room.
In summary, Trump’s post is an instinctive reaction to the current political crisis. He uses grandiose rhetoric about achievements and polarized political slogans in a desperate attempt to stabilize his position amid a polling collapse and existential threat from the midterm elections. Yet, the cold reality of objective data indicates that this “tough talk” strategy is increasingly facing substantial backlash risks.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872655729549450/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.