Former White House adviser Karl Rove recently issued a stark warning about the future of Donald Trump’s presidency. Appearing on America Reports, Rove shared his thoughts on the current state of Trump’s approval rating, which has significantly dropped following a controversial tariff announcement.
Rove, known for his role in advising President George W. Bush, suggested that the president’s approach could lead to his political downfall, stating that the American public is already “exhausted” by Trump’s ongoing pursuit of “revenge.”
Trump’s approval rating took a major hit after he introduced a controversial tariff plan in April. The plan, which aimed to raise tariffs on certain imported goods, was met with criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. The tariff announcement, intended to strengthen the American economy, ultimately caused more concern among voters.
Rove pointed out that the country is already weary of the chaos surrounding Trump’s presidency. “We’re not even 100 days into Donald Trump’s second term, and many Americans are already exhausted. They’ve had way too much thrown at them,” Rove said, indicating that the political drama surrounding the president was beginning to take a toll on the country.
Rove further explained that the 2024 election had clearly shown what Americans wanted from their president. They sought a stronger economy, lower prices, a secure southern border, and a military that could be relied upon.
While some of these issues, such as strengthening the border, have been addressed, Trump’s performance on the economy has fallen short of expectations. Voters had hoped for a robust recovery, but instead, many feel that they are still facing challenges. Rove made it clear that Trump’s inability to deliver on these promises is one of the key reasons his approval rating is on the decline.
One of Rove’s most significant criticisms of Trump is his lack of discipline. The former White House adviser argued that discipline has never been a strong suit for the president. Instead of offering calm, reasoned explanations to the American people, Trump often seems to thrive on drama and attention.
According to Rove, Trump’s tendency to engage in political theatrics rather than steady leadership is a major issue. This approach has only deepened the already existing divisions in the country. Rove emphasised that while Trump’s base remains loyal, the growing frustration among moderates and independents could lead to trouble for the president.
Rove believes that Trump’s focus on revenge is not only unhelpful but could ultimately backfire. Trump’s ongoing attempts to retaliate against his political opponents have been widely discussed, and Rove warned that these efforts are unlikely to end in Trump’s favour. “Most of the president’s revenge attempts will end badly for him,” he remarked.
Rove also warned that this kind of retaliation could set a dangerous precedent for future administrations. “Republicans could rue the day they set a new justification for retaliation from Democrats,” he added. The concern here is that political vengeance could deepen the polarisation in the country, making it even harder to heal the divisions that already exist.
The key group of voters who could determine Trump’s fate, according to Rove, is the 15 to 20 per cent of people who didn’t fully support either candidate in the 2024 election. These voters, who were dissatisfied with both Trump and his Democratic rival, are now the most crucial group for Trump’s success. If he fails to win over this group, his second term could be in serious jeopardy.
Rove pointed out that Trump’s approval numbers have already started to decline. In the early days of his presidency, Trump had an approval rating of 50.5 per cent, with a disapproval rating of 44.3 per cent. However, by March 2025, those numbers had reversed, with Trump’s approval dropping to 46.9 per cent and his disapproval rising to 50.3 per cent. This represents a nearly 10-point shift in the wrong direction, signaling that Trump is losing support from a significant portion of the electorate.
Rove cautioned that things could worsen for Trump before they improve. “That won’t matter for Mr. Trump’s ardent fans. For them, the past eight weeks have been exhilarating. But in the non-MAGA world—which includes independents and Republicans—the start of Mr. Trump’s second term has been exhausting,” Rove stated. This suggests that while Trump’s loyal base remains enthusiastic, the broader public is growing increasingly weary of the chaos and conflict surrounding his presidency.
In addition to his concerns about Trump’s leadership style, Rove also addressed the president’s economic policies, particularly his tariff plan. Rove noted that the U.S. economy is heavily dependent on international trade, with 96 per cent of its customers outside the United States. This means that any changes to trade policies, such as the tariff announcement, can have far-reaching consequences for the U.S. economy.
“The U.S. population is only 4 per cent of the world’s population, but 96 percent of our customers for American businesses and goods and services are outside of the United States,” Rove explained. He emphasised that the administration must handle tariff policies with care to prevent further economic damage.
Rove also reflected on the economic challenges faced during the Biden administration, noting that there was a lot of “happy talk” about the success of Biden’s economic policies, which many Americans didn’t believe.
He warned that the current administration must refrain from making overly optimistic statements about economic recovery until they are truly backed by solid data. “We’ve had good inflation numbers, but it’s only one month. We need to be careful about that,” Rove said. He urged the administration to temper its language and approach economic issues with a sense of caution and realism.
As the months go by, Trump’s presidency will likely continue to face challenges. With a divided electorate and growing dissatisfaction with his leadership, it remains to be seen whether he can turn things around or if his presidency will face even more difficulties ahead.
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