Trump faces declining popularity and doubts about his health

Donald Trump is facing declining popularity and doubts about his health, according to polls, but he insists on appearing strong and talking about a prosperous the US, reminiscent of Joe Biden’s usual accusations.

The Republican president, who has been in power for nearly a year, continues to compare himself to his predecessor to the point of obsession.

Trump is portraying his predecessor Joe Biden as suffering from dementia, while flaunting his great vitality at the age of 80, accusing the former Democratic president of leading the country to bankruptcy in exchange for the golden age that Trump is opening the doors to the US economy.

During a political rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, Trump mentioned his rival’s name more than 20 times, even going so far as to insult him and repeatedly call Biden a “sleepy Joe”.

However, there has been an impression for weeks that history is repeating itself during Trump’s term, as some of Trump’s usual frank remarks recall positions previously made by Joe Biden.

The Democratic president said in April 2024 that “America has the best economy in the world,” contrary to voters’ opinion.

In an interview with Politico published Tuesday, Donald Trump asserted that the US economy deserves a twenty-five-out-of-twenty” rating (i.e., a higher than excellent rating).

He also reiterated that prices continue to fall, while Americans continue to complain about the high cost of living.

According to a University of Chicago poll for the Associated Press published Thursday, only 31% of Americans are satisfied with Donald Trump’s economic policies.

Trump asked on his Truth Social, “When will the polls reflect America’s greatness today? When will it finally be said that I have built, without inflation, perhaps the best economy in our country’s history? When will people understand what is going on?”

During his election campaign, Trump accused his rival Joe Biden of ignoring the plight of low-income families.

Today, as his predecessor did, the Republican president is trying to channel part of consumer discontent toward big companies that are suspected of being involved in price manipulation.

Like the former Democratic president, Trump is struggling to rally support for his plans to boost purchasing power.

Like Joe Biden, Trump raises questions about his health, though it has not yet reached the same level of doubts about Biden’s health that Trump himself has fed.

Trump’s characterization of the former Democratic president as an old man who is incapable of governing involves exploiting real resentment of the aging American political class.

But that strategy could backfire against the greatest elected president in US history, with 79-year-old Donald Trump being closely watched at every public appearance.

He is also under attack on social media, as on Thursday, for example, a fabricated photo of him using a crutch went viral.

Did the Republican president succumb to drowsiness during the Cabinet meeting, or did he look down for a moment?

Is the bandage-covered bruise on the back of his hand really the result of too many handshakes, the White House confirms?

Joe Biden’s team used to issue angry statements to deny such allegations, but at the same time it has been increasingly careful to protect the 80-year-old president from public intrusion and questions from journalists.

Donald Trump, by contrast, remains more in contact with the outside world, and often has lengthy and spontaneous conversations with the press.

But he never questions his vitality and the pace of his daily work, as the New York Times recently did.

“It’s sedition, perhaps even high treason, when the New York Times and others constantly publish false articles to discredit and belittle the President of the United States,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.