Cliff’s Take: The Wheels Fall Off The Trump Bandwagon
January 6th – the day a violent tumult invaded Congress. I found myself, together with the team, working late into the night. We are pollsters; we gauge public opinion, warts and all. This was one of those historical moments.
I have chronicled here in my take a “Tale of Two Americas” – one blue, the other red. It is a story about an America that sees the world through colored tinted frames. And these frames will be America’s central challenge long into the future.
This said, America did reject the violent events of the past few days. This was a national moment of clarity. Here, let’s agree: our collective common decency is perhaps the greatest bulwark against extremism.
Trump has been momentarily chastened. Was he moved by the turning tide of public opinion? Or is Trump’s conversion borne out of his social media time-out? Maybe a bit of both.
Below are the most relevant polling data points of the week.
- The whole world is watching. This was a catalyzing event. Look at the data! There is near universal familiarity with the Capitol confusion. All eyes are on DC right now. The next 13 days will tell. Can Trump behave?
- Support-less. America universally condemns the pro-Trump assault of the Capitol. Again, look at the data. Both teams – red and blue – agree. And look at the drop in support; this is in less than a day! The facts on the ground were just too ugly to justify.
- Warranted arrests. America opposes anarchy. To avoid Hobbesian disorder, order is needed. Americans understand this. Arrest the rabble rousers who destroyed the People's House. A clear and concise directive.
- Low point? Trump seems to have met his match. His own political physics has just crashed against the will of the people. Already relatively low on the eve of January 6th, will his approval ratings dip further? Will he back down? We will see.
- Trump's contrition. Trump now promises a peaceful transition. It took this heightened level of anarchy and confusion to get there – but Trump has been humbled, at least for now. Again, look at the data. America has moved on, but have Trump and Republicans?
Ultimately, I believe more than ever that we are wise in aggregate. Americans, independent of their political genome, are a decent, moral people.
There’s a quote (perhaps apocryphally) attributed to Winston Churchill that fits here. “You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing, after they have exhausted all the other possibilities.”
This has shone through clearly in the last few days. This gives me hope.
As always, be safe and sane.
For more information, please contact:
Clifford Young
President, U.S.
Public Affairs
+1 202 420-2016
[email protected]
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