Why the New NYT Poll is Very Bad News for Trump

A+ rated poll shows the collapse of the premise of Trump's election.

There is something inherently triggering about writing about a New York Times/Siena poll. Throughout the 2024 campaign, I waited with dread for the New York Times/Siena polls to drop.

Other than that glorious, but fleeting period, known as “brat summer,” a new NYT poll is usually bad news.

You never know when they are going to come, and because it’s an A+ rated poll from the country’s most influential media outlet, a New York Times/Siena poll can change the entire political narrative.

Well, late Friday afternoon, the New York Times dropped a new poll, and this time, it’s bad news for Donald Trump. Most of the recent polling had been bad for Trump. His approval rating was sinking, and he is now underwater on the economy and immigration — his two strongest issues last November. Trump was floundering and failing, and this sentiment percolated right below the surface of the political conversation. However, this new poll underscores the reality of Trump’s failures in a way that only a Times/Siena poll can.

Trump’s approval rating is pitiful, but that’s not the biggest story. Trump has been unpopular before, but this poll shows something much more alarming for Trump (and encouraging for America) – a fundamental rejection of the entire premise of his presidency.

1. Trump’s Initial Approach Flopped

For his second term, Trump’s strategy would be a show of unrelenting force. He would bewilder his opponents and bend institutions to his will. In some sense, that strategy was successful. It took Democrats a couple of weeks to find their footing and major institutions like law firms, universities, media outlets, and major corporations sided with Trump out of fear.

However, as this new poll uncovers, the voters are deeply uncomfortable with Trump’s approach. Two-thirds of voters described Trump’s second term as chaotic and 59% describe it as scary.