Trump won't drop war, tariffs or monuments to save the GOP
<p>Read the polls, watch <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/05/gdp-growth-trump-golden-age-predictions" target="_blank">economic indicators</a> and talk to President Trump's inner circle in private, and the verdict on his second term seems clear:</p><ul><li>Even some longtime insiders fear he's trapped by a war he shouldn't have waged, <a href="https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/federal/trump-tariffs-trade-war/" target="_blank">tariffs</a> he shouldn't have levied, monuments he shouldn't be obsessed with.</li></ul><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/authors/barak_ravid" target="_blank">These</a> <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-25-supreme-court-import-taxes-120895adbee7ae06157cd5f4bf5c7583" target="_blank">three</a> <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-arch-lincoln-memorial-arlington-e6bb1793d30922ad85eab3a10d12b632" target="_blank">topics</a> chew up much of Trump's time and attention. All three are widely unpopular in polls.</p><hr><ul><li>And it's almost impossible to see the public suddenly warming to war, tariffs or more statues.</li></ul><p><strong>By the numbers:</strong> Trump's approval cratered to an all-time low of 32% in a <a href="https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3964" target="_blank">Quinnipiac poll</a> last week. Even more damning: 68% of voters said he isn't focused enough on the problems most Americans face.</p><ul><li>Trump has squandered the GOP's most durable political advantage: A <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/democrats-lead-republicans-economy-trump-approval-falls-reutersipsos-poll-finds-2026-08-03/" target="_blank">Reuters/Ipsos poll</a> this week (and a <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/07/23/as-the-2026-midterms-approach-economy-is-front-and-center/" target="_blank">Pew poll</a> last month) found voters split on which party is better for the economy — after Republicans had led on the issue for <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/democrats-lead-republicans-economy-trump-approval-falls-reutersipsos-poll-finds-2026-08-03/" target="_blank">nine years</a>, back to Trump's first term. Republicans still <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-approval-rating-immigration-economy-iran-healthcare-f14da4276e2e0d5ec9b79f0d48e22788" target="_blank">back Trump</a> on immigration, a new <a href="https://apnorc.org/projects/trumps-approval-on-immigration-remains-steady/" target="_blank">AP-NORC poll</a> shows.</li></ul><p><strong>Behind the scenes:</strong> New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman estimates 70% of the president's mindshare goes to renovations and monuments. "It's a legacy thing," <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-maggie-haberman.html?unlocked_article_code=1.3FA.Fs3q.cJrfZACbMTlU&smid=url-share" target="_blank">she told</a> her colleague Ezra Klein.</p><ul><li>A Trump insider told us: "He concentrates on the hobbies that distract from his terrible <a href="https://www.economist.com/interactive/trump-approval-tracker" target="_blank">polling numbers</a>, about which he is in denial. The other issue is how the war, tariffs and monuments are demoralizing the base."</li><li>And we keep hearing complaints from top Republicans about Trump's <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/21/maga-inc-cash-candidates-01006198" target="_blank">reluctance to unleash</a> the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-aligned-maga-inc-builds-stockpile-more-than-400-million-2026-07-21/" target="_blank">$400 million cache</a> built by his super PAC, MAGA Inc. The unwillingness to spend big, <em>now,</em> in game-changing races has "demoralized donors," the insider said.</li><li>There's a saying in politics that campaigns are won and lost in the summer. For Republicans, this was the Trump-induced summer of discontent.</li></ul><img src="https://images.axios.com/17lTzAXavJZGFcBwZbyhItN4iG0=/2026/08/07/1786063044871.jpeg"> <div>President Trump uses a laser pointer on an airport model while unveiling planned Dulles renovations last week. Photo: Kylie Cooper/Reuters</div><p><strong>The big picture: </strong>Our reporting shows Trump has no desire to back off any of these topics, especially renovations and monuments, or shift to a new policy agenda before or after the November elections.</p><ul><li>Ahead of the midterms, he has poured political capital into another self-destructive fixation: the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/18/trump-save-act-thune-senate" target="_blank">SAVE America Act</a>, which would impose national proof-of-citizenship and voter-ID <a href="https://bipartisanpolicy.org/article/five-things-to-know-about-the-save-act/" target="_blank">requirements</a>. Republicans have told Trump, repeatedly, that the bill has no path through the Senate. They lack the 60 votes needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster — and the 51 Republican votes needed to abolish it. </li><li>Trump has refused to accept that reality, instead whipping the MAGA base into a frenzy against Senate Majority Leader <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/27/donald-trump-john-thune-senate-republicans-save-act" target="_blank">John Thune</a> and other Republicans who won't comply.</li></ul><p><strong>What to watch: </strong>Top congressional Republicans tell us <a href="https://www.natesilver.net/p/trump-approval-ratings-nate-silver-bulletin" target="_blank">Trump's unpopularity</a> points toward the likely loss of the House, and perhaps the Senate. Some gently, indirectly, plead with him to shift to affordability or the economy. </p><ul><li>But an 80-year-old man who made the greatest comeback in American political history appears too proud, stubborn and undisciplined to change, Republicans privately admit.</li><li>So rather than face the issues, Trump often pivots to showing visitors <a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/president-donald-trump-displays-a-rendering-of-his-proposed-news-photo/2242668203?slot=3&adppopup=true" target="_blank">renderings</a> of the new White House ballroom or a <a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/president-donald-trump-speaks-during-a-press-conference-news-photo/2240810988?slot=2&adppopup=true" target="_blank">model</a> of the planned <a href="https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/2044476625308262457" target="_blank">Triumphal Arch</a>. He <a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/model-of-the-new-air-force-one-plane-from-qatar-displayed-news-photo/2286457872?slot=1&adppopup=true" target="_blank">showcases</a> his new Air Force One, touts his <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/07/30/trump-dulles-airport-plan" target="_blank">plans for Dulles</a>, and <a href="https://wapo.st/4fYGqQW" target="_blank">obsesses about</a> the helipad being built on the South Lawn.</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line: </strong>"Sixth-year summers are <a href="https://www.vox.com/2014/12/31/7474379/presidents-year-six-ranked" target="_blank">historically terrible</a> for presidents," the insider said.</p><ul><li><em>Axios' Marc Caputo and Zachary Basu contributed reporting.</em></li></ul><p><em><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/02/trump-gop-control-midterms-investigations" target="_blank">Go deeper</a>: "Trump's final act," from Jim's political briefing for Axios C-Suite.</em></p><ul><li>📈 <em>If you're a CEO or on a CEO's team: <a href="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/c-suite?utm_medium=native&utm_source=axios_article&utm_campaign=csuite" target="_self">Ask to join</a> Jim's new weekly Axios C-Suite newsletter.</em></li></ul>
<p>Read the polls, watch <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/05/gdp-growth-trump-golden-age-predictions" target="_blank">economic indicators</a> and talk to President Trump's inner circle in private, and the verdict on his second term seems clear:</p><ul><li>Even some longtime insiders fear he's trapped by a war he shouldn't have waged, <a href="https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/federal/trump-tariffs-trade-war/" target="_blank">tariffs</a> he shouldn't have levied, monuments he shouldn't be obsessed with.</li></ul><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/authors/barak_ravid" target="_blank">These</a> <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-25-supreme-court-import-taxes-120895adbee7ae06157cd5f4bf5c7583" target="_blank">three</a> <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-arch-lincoln-memorial-arlington-e6bb1793d30922ad85eab3a10d12b632" target="_blank">topics</a> chew up much of Trump's time and attention. All three are widely unpopular in polls.</p><hr><ul><li>And it's almost impossible to see the public suddenly warming to war, tariffs or more statues.</li></ul><p><strong>By the numbers:</strong> Trump's approval cratered to an all-time low of 32% in a <a href="https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3964" target="_blank">Quinnipiac poll</a> last week. Even more damning: 68% of voters said he isn't focused enough on the problems most Americans face.</p><ul><li>Trump has squandered the GOP's most durable political advantage: A <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/democrats-lead-republicans-economy-trump-approval-falls-reutersipsos-poll-finds-2026-08-03/" target="_blank">Reuters/Ipsos poll</a> this week (and a <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/07/23/as-the-2026-midterms-approach-economy-is-front-and-center/" target="_blank">Pew poll</a> last month) found voters split on which party is better for the economy — after Republicans had led on the issue for <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/democrats-lead-republicans-economy-trump-approval-falls-reutersipsos-poll-finds-2026-08-03/" target="_blank">nine years</a>, back to Trump's first term. Republicans still <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-approval-rating-immigration-economy-iran-healthcare-f14da4276e2e0d5ec9b79f0d48e22788" target="_blank">back Trump</a> on immigration, a new <a href="https://apnorc.org/projects/trumps-approval-on-immigration-remains-steady/" target="_blank">AP-NORC poll</a> shows.</li></ul><p><strong>Behind the scenes:</strong> New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman estimates 70% of the president's mindshare goes to renovations and monuments. "It's a legacy thing," <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-maggie-haberman.html?unlocked_article_code=1.3FA.Fs3q.cJrfZACbMTlU&smid=url-share" target="_blank">she told</a> her colleague Ezra Klein.</p><ul><li>A Trump insider told us: "He concentrates on the hobbies that distract from his terrible <a href="https://www.economist.com/interactive/trump-approval-tracker" target="_blank">polling numbers</a>, about which he is in denial. The other issue is how the war, tariffs and monuments are demoralizing the base."</li><li>And we keep hearing complaints from top Republicans about Trump's <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/21/maga-inc-cash-candidates-01006198" target="_blank">reluctance to unleash</a> the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-aligned-maga-inc-builds-stockpile-more-than-400-million-2026-07-21/" target="_blank">$400 million cache</a> built by his super PAC, MAGA Inc. The unwillingness to spend big, <em>now,</em> in game-changing races has "demoralized donors," the insider said.</li><li>There's a saying in politics that campaigns are won and lost in the summer. For Republicans, this was the Trump-induced summer of discontent.</li></ul><img src="https://images.axios.com/17lTzAXavJZGFcBwZbyhItN4iG0=/2026/08/07/1786063044871.jpeg"> <div>President Trump uses a laser pointer on an airport model while unveiling planned Dulles renovations last week. Photo: Kylie Cooper/Reuters</div><p><strong>The big picture: </strong>Our reporting shows Trump has no desire to back off any of these topics, especially renovations and monuments, or shift to a new policy agenda before or after the November elections.</p><ul><li>Ahead of the midterms, he has poured political capital into another self-destructive fixation: the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/18/trump-save-act-thune-senate" target="_blank">SAVE America Act</a>, which would impose national proof-of-citizenship and voter-ID <a href="https://bipartisanpolicy.org/article/five-things-to-know-about-the-save-act/" target="_blank">requirements</a>. Republicans have told Trump, repeatedly, that the bill has no path through the Senate. They lack the 60 votes needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster — and the 51 Republican votes needed to abolish it. </li><li>Trump has refused to accept that reality, instead whipping the MAGA base into a frenzy against Senate Majority Leader <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/27/donald-trump-john-thune-senate-republicans-save-act" target="_blank">John Thune</a> and other Republicans who won't comply.</li></ul><p><strong>What to watch: </strong>Top congressional Republicans tell us <a href="https://www.natesilver.net/p/trump-approval-ratings-nate-silver-bulletin" target="_blank">Trump's unpopularity</a> points toward the likely loss of the House, and perhaps the Senate. Some gently, indirectly, plead with him to shift to affordability or the economy. </p><ul><li>But an 80-year-old man who made the greatest comeback in American political history appears too proud, stubborn and undisciplined to change, Republicans privately admit.</li><li>So rather than face the issues, Trump often pivots to showing visitors <a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/president-donald-trump-displays-a-rendering-of-his-proposed-news-photo/2242668203?slot=3&adppopup=true" target="_blank">renderings</a> of the new White House ballroom or a <a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/president-donald-trump-speaks-during-a-press-conference-news-photo/2240810988?slot=2&adppopup=true" target="_blank">model</a> of the planned <a href="https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/2044476625308262457" target="_blank">Triumphal Arch</a>. He <a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/model-of-the-new-air-force-one-plane-from-qatar-displayed-news-photo/2286457872?slot=1&adppopup=true" target="_blank">showcases</a> his new Air Force One, touts his <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/07/30/trump-dulles-airport-plan" target="_blank">plans for Dulles</a>, and <a href="https://wapo.st/4fYGqQW" target="_blank">obsesses about</a> the helipad being built on the South Lawn.</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line: </strong>"Sixth-year summers are <a href="https://www.vox.com/2014/12/31/7474379/presidents-year-six-ranked" target="_blank">historically terrible</a> for presidents," the insider said.</p><ul><li><em>Axios' Marc Caputo and Zachary Basu contributed reporting.</em></li></ul><p><em><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/02/trump-gop-control-midterms-investigations" target="_blank">Go deeper</a>: "Trump's final act," from Jim's political briefing for Axios C-Suite.</em></p><ul><li>📈 <em>If you're a CEO or on a CEO's team: <a href="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/c-suite?utm_medium=native&utm_source=axios_article&utm_campaign=csuite" target="_self">Ask to join</a> Jim's new weekly Axios C-Suite newsletter.</em></li></ul>
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