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Economic Times
3 minutes ago
- Economic Times
When will voters blame Trump for this economy?
Donald Trump's economic policies face scrutiny as Americans grapple with financial challenges. Polls reveal concerns about inflation and the impact of Trump's economic agenda. Blue-collar voters express worries over tariffs. Republicans risk political setbacks in upcoming elections. The party's future hinges on voter sentiment and the strength of the Democratic alternative. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads President Donald Trump has claimed responsibility for the economy virtually every day since his inauguration. Late last week, the White House declared it a smashing success in a press release called '200 Days of Winning: President Trump is Keeping His Promises.' Yet many Americans are still struggling to get by amid mediocre economic growth and difficulty affording necessities, from groceries to prompts a key political question: When will voters hold Trump — now back on the job for more than six months — responsible for their financial plight? The answer could decide the battle for Congress in the 2026 midterm elections and determine the fight to succeed Trump in the White House in an early August YouGov poll for The Economist, voters' No. 1 issue was 'inflation/prices,' which at 21% beat the next most important concern, 'jobs/economy' by 7 percentage points. Trump's job approval rating in this survey was cratering at 41%. The president's handling of the economy rated roughly the same, at 40%. Those poor numbers are driven in part by dour reviews from independents and fit with recent data produced by Democratic a poll conducted in late July for the centrist Democratic think tank Third Way, Trump's job approval rating clocked in higher than the YouGov survey, hitting 45%. But a 41% plurality of registered voters said the president's second term was unfolding as 'worse' than expected and only 42% approved of his signature economic package, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4. Approval of the OBBBA among independents, according to this poll? A dismal 32%.Moreover, an early summer Democratic poll shows that 58% of voters view the economy as 'Trump's economy,' versus blaming former President Joe if the polls are accurate, Trump's blue-collar voters are running out of patience. 'In the spring, many [blue collar voters] were willing to give Trump the benefit of the doubt on his tariff plan — but by summer, many expressed serious concerns that tariffs are hurting their lives by making things more expensive,' reads a July 30 analysis of a focus group conducted by The Working Class Project, an initiative led by a Democratic super together, these findings put congressional Republicans in dire straits. And if such views proliferate among the electorate, it's not only Republicans on Capitol Hill who will feel the political pinch. Republicans vying to succeed Trump in 2028, especially Vice President JD Vance, could pay an extremely high of course, there are other surveys, and other ways of interpreting the begin with Trump's average job approval rating, calculated by RealClearPolitics at 45.7%. That's not half bad in our polarized times. The president's handling of the economy rated a similar 45% in CNBC's 'All America Economic Survey' fielded from July 3 through Aug. 3. Granted, that was a high-water mark in recent assessments of Trump's leadership on this the president's fate, and that of his party, will rest not only with how voters feel about the economy and the effectiveness of his governing agenda, but also on what the political alternative on the eve of President Barack Obama's reelection in 2012, the unemployment rate was hovering like a dark cloud over the economy at 7.9%, up one point from the previous month. That's a lot of Americans out of work — and nearly double the 4.1% rate just prior to Election Day 2024. But Republican Mitt Romney, a career businessman and corporate turnaround artist, did not ride those grim numbers into the White Heye, a Republican strategist in Washington active in campaigns during the Obama era, said there's a lesson there for Democrats assuming Trump and the GOP are inexorably doomed based on voters' economic anxiety. But so, too, must Republicans be careful not to assume the trade deals Trump has lately touted, and macro indicators showing a resilient if not entirely strong U.S. economy, will produce electoral victory.'It's a fluid thing,' Heye, an occasional Trump critic, told explained that Trump has been given some latitude (and time) by voters to improve the economy because they blamed Biden almost entirely for the inflation that spiked on his watch, even though higher prices were in part a reaction to the coronavirus pandemic, and resulting public policy decisions, that began during Trump's first term. 'That hangover that remains continues to give Trump the ability to blame things on Biden.'When might voters finally absolve Biden of responsibility and point fingers at Trump? 'Companies are absorbing costs thus far on tariffs. That's not going to last forever,' Heye another parallel with Obama might be 44th president pursued health care reform, convinced the eventual Affordable Care Act was good public policy and, as politicians are wont to say, therefore good politics. But in the short term, the law known as Obamacare was a political disaster for Democrats, costing the party 63 seats in the House seats and seven in the Senate. With Trump's firm belief in tariffs and insistence on building a protectionist moat around voters' access to foreign products, a 'shellacking' of his own can't be ruled out. But of course, it matters what kind of alternative Democrats are offering.
Time of India
6 minutes ago
- Time of India
Pentagon Sends 800 National Guard Troops As Trump Seizes Control Of Washington DC Police
Israel Unnerved By Outrage After Killing Al Jazeera Journalist | 'Jihadi Terrorists With Cameras…' The Israeli Foreign Ministry has defended the action, asserting that "jihadi terrorists with cameras are not journalists" and emphasised their commitment to targeting Hamas operatives. This after the Israeli military's recent airstrike in Gaza that resulted in the deaths of six journalists, including prominent Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif. The incident has sparked widespread international condemnation, with the United Nations and various media organisations calling for an independent investigation and highlighting the risks to press freedom in conflict zones. Watch. 8.6K views | 16 hours ago
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First Post
6 minutes ago
- First Post
For the love of gold: Inside the Oval Office makeover by Donald Trump
Donald Trump has given his White House Oval Office a 'golden' makeover. With gold trim, trophies, and a gilded seal, Trump has replaced Biden's simpler decor. Here's what has changed read more The Oval Office has had a bit of a makeover recently. Every president leaves their mark on the White House, swapping out decor and rearranging details to reflect their style and priorities. But in his second term, Donald Trump has taken that tradition in a flashier direction with his not-so-subtle love for gold, glitz, and unapologetic grandeur. 'The transformation has been gradual and unmistakable… By February, some golden urns on the mantle. April, gold adornments appear on the walls. By July, it's gold everywhere. Just this week more scaffolding popped up, even more new gold trim appeared,' Acyn Torabi, a journalist, wrote on Trump's new glitzy new 'gold' Oval Office. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So what has changed? And how does it differ from what his predecessor, Joe Biden, did? Here's a closer look. Golden embellishments Under Joe Biden, the Oval Office ceiling was simple, cream wallpaper with matching crown moulding and no extra flourishes. Donald Trump has taken that understated look in a very different direction. He added gold trim to the crown moulding, pairing it with the gold curtains that have hung in the office since Biden's term. US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Apple CEO Tim Cook in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 6, 2025. File image/AFP The greenery that once sat on the mantel, a potted Swedish ivy, was also removed. In its place now stand nine gold trophies, most of them made in Europe. Critics say the changes make the Oval Office resemble the royal palaces America once fought to break away from. But Trump sees it differently. Speaking to Fox News in March, he said the office 'needed a little life,' so he chose gold. 'They say angels bring good luck,' he explained. 'And we need a lot of luck in this country with what they have done over the last four years.' The greenery that once sat on the mantel, a potted Swedish ivy, was also removed. In its place now stand nine gold trophies, most of them made in Europe. By April, the gold touches were impossible to ignore. That's when Trump's 'gold guy,' John Icart, the same craftsman who worked on Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, was flown in from South Florida. According to officials, Icart added gold accents to the mantel, walls, and mouldings, and even delivered golden cherubs that now sit on display. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump also brought in smaller gold details, such as coasters, branded with his name. A golden presidential seal The presidential seal on the Oval Office ceiling has been there for decades. Franklin D. Roosevelt first added the plaster relief during a 1934 renovation, and for years, it remained a subtle detail. Not anymore. In Trump's latest overhaul, the seal and the surrounding stars have been painted in gilded gold, making them stand out far more than before. The presidential seal on the Oval Office ceiling has been there for decades. In Trump's latest overhaul, the seal and the surrounding stars have been painted in gilded gold. AFP But to be fair, Trump's taste for gold is nothing new. His Trump Tower penthouse in New York is lined with gilded ceilings, furniture, and artwork. At Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Palm Beach, even the ballroom gleams with gold from floor to ceiling. Rugs, flags & portraits One of Trump's first moves after returning to the White House was to swap out the Oval Office rug and change up the portraits. Gone is the dark blue rug, originally made for Bill Clinton, that featured the presidential seal in the centre. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Gone is the dark blue rug, originally made for Bill Clinton, that featured the presidential seal in the centre. File image/ AFP In its place, Trump brought back a lighter rug once used by Ronald Reagan. The design still includes the presidential seal, but also features a sunbeam pattern and olive branches around the border, meant to symbolise peace. It's the same rug Trump used during his first term. Trump brought back a lighter rug once used by Ronald Reagan. AFP Trump's Oval Office also now feature the flags of the Army, the Marine Corps, and the Navy. Trump's Oval Office also now feature the flags of the Army, the Marine Corps, and the Navy. AFP The walls have had just as big a shake-up. Under Biden, the Entrance Hall displayed Barack Obama's official White House portrait, a hyper-realistic painting showing the former president in a navy suit. That's now gone, replaced by a painting of Trump himself. The new piece, by artist Marc Lipp, is based on a photo taken moments after the assassination attempt at Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, showing him with his fist raised. Barack Obama's portrait was replaced with Trump's after the assassination attempt at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, showing him with his fist raised. AFP Trump didn't stop there. He's added more portraits in ornate frames, turning one wall into a kind of gallery. He also replaced Biden's portrait of Franklin D Roosevelt with a portrait of George Washington. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Rose Garden refresh The White House Rose Garden has been through many changes over the decades. Originally designed in 1913 by First Lady Ellen Wilson as a formal flower garden, it was later reimagined as a grassy lawn for press conferences and official events. In 2020, Melania Trump added a limestone border around the grass, but in his second term, Trump went much further. The lawn is now gone, replaced with concrete and stone tiles, giving the space the look and feel of a Mar-a-Lago-style patio. The White House Rose Garden has been through many changes over the decades. The lawn is now gone, replaced with concrete and stone tiles, giving the space the look and feel of a Mar-a-Lago-style patio. AFP Trump has been open about why he made the change. Speaking to Fox News in March, he said the grass was simply 'impractical' for big gatherings, especially when it rained. 'The grass just doesn't work,' he told host Laura Ingraham. 'It gets wet, and people in high heels can't walk on it. This way, it works for everyone.' A ballroom in the works Trump's taste for big, bold spaces isn't stopping at the Rose Garden. His next project is on a much grander scale: a $200 million state ballroom in the East Wing. The White House's current largest state room, the East Room, holds around 200 people. The planned ballroom will triple that, with a seating capacity of 650 and an expansive 90,000 square feet of space. The White House has called it a 'much-needed and exquisite addition.' Trump says the funding will come from himself and 'patriot donors,' not taxpayers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It's not hard to guess what kind of look he's going for, if his past projects are anything to go by, expect a lot of shine and a whole lot of spectacle. With input from agencies
