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Trump celebrates 6-month mark in office, touts US as 'most respected country' in the world

Trump celebrates 6-month mark in office, touts US as 'most respected country' in the world

USA Today21-07-2025
President Donald Trump celebrated the six-month mark of his second White House term by declaring that the United States has become the "hottest" and the "most respected" country in the world.
"Wow, time flies!" he wrote on Truth Social on July 20. "Importantly, it's being hailed as one of the most consequential periods of any President. In other words, we got a lot of good and great things done, including ending numerous wars of Countries not related to us other than through Trade and/or, in certain cases, friendship."
He added: "'One year ago our Country was DEAD, with almost no hope of revival. Today the USA is the 'hottest' and most respected Country anywhere in the World.' Happy Anniversary!!!"
Trump's second term has been met with several challenges, including the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which he said he would end. The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza also rages on, alongside ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages.
In a separate post, Trump also talked about his poll numbers "going up" among Republicans and MAGA base and claimed they "hit 90%, 92%, 93%, and 95%, in various polls, and are all Republican Party records."
At the same time, a couple of recent polls showed Trump's overall approval rate dropping.
A recent Economist/YouGov poll, conducted from July 11 to July 14, showed 41% of Americans strongly or somewhat approve of Trump's job performance, while 55% strongly or somewhat disapprove. The results, according to the survey, are the "largest share of Americans who have disapproved of Trump's job performance so far in his second term as president."
Another poll, released July 20 by CBS/YouGov, placed Trump's approval rating at 42%, with disapproval at 58%. The survey previously found Trump's approval rating was 45% in June and 47% in mid-April.
Trump's on a roll. Why isn't he smiling? Answer: Jeffrey Epstein
Democratic leadership is not buying Trump's self-assessment
Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin was critical of Trump's self-assessment, adding that every American needs to ask themselves if they are better off than they were six months ago.
'Unless you're a billionaire or a big CEO, the answer is no," he said in a statement. "In six months, Donald Trump has skyrocketed prices for basic necessities, sparked an erratic trade war with no end in sight, and orchestrated the largest cuts to health care and food assistance in American history. As Trump's reckless trade agenda forces small businesses to plan for recession, working families are drowning in sky-high energy, gas, and grocery prices."
Contributing: Kathryn Palmer
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