Commentary by Stephen Macaulay

Before the Democrats start breaking out the “We’re Back!” signs and streamers because of the just-released Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll that shows Donald Trump’s performance solidly underwhelming, there is something they need to look in the mirror about.

There are questions 13a and 13b that they need to come to grips with:

• Do you think the Democratic Party is in touch with the concerns of most people in the United States today, or out of touch?
• Do you think the Republican Party is in touch with the concerns of most people in the United States today, or out of touch?

Turns out 69% of those surveyed think the Democrats are out of touch. While there is a notable 64% who think the Republicans are out of touch, that still fewer than those who are not impressed with the performance of the Democrats.

In fact, when it comes to 

• Do you think Trump is in touch with the concerns of most people in the United States today, or out of touch?

he does better than the Democratic Party, as “only” 60% think he is out of touch.

That in itself is damning.

The President is supposed to represent the people, and if well over half don’t think he’s in touch with their needs, that’s simply not good for the country.

Sixty-one percent disapprove of his handling of the economy. Perhaps his playing a businessman on TV is beginning to wear thin.

Sixty-four percent disapprove of the way he is handling tariffs.

Sixty-seven percent, undoubtedly realizing how much of their retirement money or funds to send the kids to college are wrapped up in the stock market, disapprove of how Trump is roiling Wall Street.

And 64% are of the opinion that all those Executive Orders he’s executing, which are expanding the power of the executive (well, quite a number of them are the subjects of lawsuits, so perhaps that expansion is not going to happen), think he is “going too far.”

That is underscored by the 60% who say that he has “gone beyond his authority as president.”

The Washington Post claims “Trump’s 100-day approval ratings in both terms are lower than any president’s since polls began.”

Trump’s approval rating in his first term was at 42%, which is five points lower than George W. Bush at or near his 100 days in office.

Trump’s current approval rating is now 39%.

Still, there are polls and there are elections. He won the 2024 election and did so handily.

Or an argument could be made — and it wouldn’t be too difficult to make it — that the Democrats lost the 2024 election.

And given what the polls say about the Democratic Party today, they still don’t have their act together.

Macaulay is pundit-at-large for The Hustings.