A Fox News poll released in late July found President Donald Trump's approval rating at 46 percent, and he is especially unpopular on economic issues. While respondents gave Trump 56 percent approval on "border security," he enjoyed only 36 percent support on "inflation" and "tariffs."

Veteran GOP strategist and former George W. Bush adviser Karl Rove discussed those numbers during an early August appearance on Fox News and argued that Trump — like former President Joe Biden — is failing to connect with voters on the economy.

"The country is deeply polarized," Rove told host Paul Gigot. "He has very strong adherents, very strong detractors. What’s interesting to me is if you take a look inside some of these polls — like, for example, the Wall Street Journal poll — we now have more Republicans than Democrats. This is a very odd circumstance. Republicans are used to fighting elections even when they have the White House, with more people identifying as Democrats than the Republicans. But give Trump his due: he has changed the nature of American politics and given the Republicans a lead. And, however, on the generic ballot, it's 46 Dem, 43 R for the midterm elections."

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Rove added, "That's because while he has strengthened the support among right-leaning Republicans, he has also sort of lost ground among independents — who at this point are disposed to say, 'I’m voting Democrat in the midterm election.'"

Gigot noted that inflation was a major liability for Democrats in the 2024 election.

When Gigot asked Rove if anxiety over inflation was a "warning sign" for Trump, he responded, "Oh, it ought to be. Because you're absolutely right: The election was decided on economy, inflation and the border. Ironically enough, the more secure the border, the less important an issue that is — and the more important the economy and inflation become. And to me, what’s ironic is, is that the Trump Administration is making the same mistake that the Biden Administration made…. Remember, we had: Bidenomics is working. Well, now, we have: the golden age of American prosperity is returned — and Americans are not feeling that."

Rove continued, "Better to say, 'We're working hard to put America on the right road,' rather than declaring premature victory. And I think that's a big mistake for the White House and is likely to come back and bite them in the midterm election."

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Watch the full Fox News video at this Mediaite link.


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