…which means they are misleading, manipulative, and useless, except to be misleading and manipulative.
I just saw a Rasmussen Poll that measured Trump’s approval split at 49%-49%. Which side of that split would I belong on? I’m not sure I know. Hmmmmmm….
Do I approve of Trump’s character? Do I like the fact that someone like him is the symbol of the United States to the world? Do I think his conduct as President is likely to have a positive effect on the United States society and culture over the long term? Do I think his conduct as President is likely to have a positive effect on the office of the Presidency over the long term? Do I approve of his social media postings and his unrestrained outbursts on whatever topic engages him at a particular moment? Do I approve of his extreme narcissism, his cruelty, his misogyny, his exaggerations, his constant resort to ad hominem attacks?
Nonononononononononono! I do not approve. Not only that, but I don’t approve of anyone who does approve these aspects of Donald Trump.
I don’t approve of all of Trump’s policies and initiatives either. Yet several of his accomplishments, all by themselves, are important enough for me to conclude that, on balance, I’m glad that he’s President at this time in American history. I guess that means I “approve” of his Presidency, right? (I was imitating Kamala Harris there.) I approve of his efforts to end the Ukrainian war. I approve of his assault on DEI and leftist bias and indoctrination at our colleges and universities. I approve of his efforts to discourage the politicization of the legal profession, the Smithsonian, and the news media. I approve of his determination to enforce the immigration a laws, and that alone would counter-balance a lot of Trump’s less savory actions. I approve of his work to hold the Deep State accountable, to gut the Department of Education; to project American power without starting wars.
I appreciate Presidents who aren’t afraid to use the power the office has, and Trump certainly is one of those. No, again, I don’t approve of everything he’s using that power to do, but boy oh boy, I sure love that he finally got NPR and PBS defunded, and his declaring English our national language was another short-cut to my heart. I approve of his guts, his resilience, and his work ethic.
So what does it mean to “approve” of President Trump? Does it mean…
- …that one likes his style?
- …that one approves of his character?
- …that one endorses his values?
- ….that one likes one policy so much that the others don’t matter?
- …that one agrees with most of his policies?
- …that one approves of the fact that he’s devoted his time and energy to the needs of his country at an age when most people with his resources would be hanging out on a beach?
- …that even if he appears flawed and sometimes misguided, he is doing his best at a killing and notoriously difficult job?
- Or something else?
I have no idea. I approve of him as President in 2025 because I am certain that in his absence, the United States would have rotted from within and without. I approve of Trump as the lucky, if strange, antidote to the emerging totalitarianism of today’s Left, another example of our nation’s uncanny knack for finding the right leader at the right time, what Bismarck was alluding to when he said “God has a special providence for fools, drunkards, and the United States of America.”
Ethics Alarms 
“Do I think his conduct as President is likely to have a positive effect on the office of the Presidency over the long term?”
Kind of a vague question, so I will go with a “maybe.”
He has demonstrated what an effective Presidency can look like. Politicians entrenched in Washington for decades get used to the status quo.
Who would have thought he could close the border in 6 months? Not entrenched politicians who are used to an unchecked influx of illegal immigrants.
Who would have thought a President could use tariff policy? Not entrenched politicians who have never seen it tried.
The list goes on, so I won’t.
But, I would not have imagined this either. But, now that he has done it, it is manifestly possible, because what is actual must be possible.
Hopefully, the people, understanding that it is possible, will come to expect it from the President.
-Jut
I’m sorry for sounding sarcastic, because you deserve better, but…
“…his cruelty, his misogyny…”
Yeah…. You say that like it’s obvious with no further explanation needed. So, naturally, you’re agreeing with the following from Amnesty International:
Attacking the rights of women and LGBTQIA+ communities: Anti-trans policies and executive orders have contributed to a dangerous climate of discrimination and indicate an attempt to erase transgender people’s existence under the law. Measures have also been taken to weaken sexual and reproductive rights guarantees for all people, particularly the right to abortion for women and people who can get pregnant.
They said what you’re saying, just with a little more detail. And, of course, you’re aligning with the National Immigration Law Center, but for their unnecessary detail:
Analysis of Trump Day 1 Executive Orders: Unconstitutional, Illegal, and Cruel
The second Trump administration began with a slew of executive orders designed to terrify and devastate immigrants, their families, and communities across the United States.
Those are two examples of Trump’s cruelty and misogyny, so your readers don’t need to wonder exactly what you mean. Otherwise, what do you mean? He’s fighting an existential battle for the country – at least he can throw some zingers and have some fun while he’s doing it, eh?
On Trump’s misogyny, no further explanation IS needed. The man is a misogynist. He has proven it repeatedly with his rhetoric and his treatment of woman. That doesn’t make him a bad President—we’ve had lost of misogynists as President, some of the quite effective: FDR, Grover Cleveland. But there is really no argument that Trump isn’t what we used to call a pig. Not as bad as JFK perhaps, but that’s a high bar. I certainly don’t hold it “cruel” to enforce the law, which I know is the Left’s narrative, and pure garbage. You caught me: I will have to be more specific. I was reacting mostly to rhetoric rather than actions: for example, Trump’s comments about not respecting prisoners of war as a slap at John McCain was gratuitously cruel (and stupid).
True. There is no superglue strong enough to hold his lips closed for very long, unfortunately.
My Opinion,
The only political poll I believe is the one that’s taken in the voting box.
The End.
JM wrote: I Don’t Know What Presidential “Approval” Polls Mean
NOT the many items in your free association list. Instead the pollster you mentioned — Rasmussen — asks people whether they approve or disapprove of the President’s job performance. So I expect you would have answered “approve” (most probably) or (perhaps?) “strongly approve,” which are put together in the “approve” column.
I was unable to track down the exact wording of the Rasmussen daily poll, but it clearly asks people about his job performance. (Yes, it would be nice if media reports always specified this–they often don’t, hence your post.) Rasmussen surveys 300 people a day, every day, so it is probably the best survey out there for tracking change over time.
“Daily tracking results are collected via telephone surveys of 300 likely voters per night and reported on a five-day rolling average basis. To reach those who have abandoned traditional landline telephones, Rasmussen Reports uses an online survey tool to interview randomly selected participants from a demographically diverse panel.”
https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/trump_administration_second_term/prez_track_aug25