Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville has delivered a stark analysis of former President Donald Trump's dwindling political capital, declaring his presidency effectively over in terms of significant achievement.
Poll Numbers Paint a Bleak Picture
During an appearance on The Daily Beast Podcast released Monday, Carville pointed to a recent Gallup poll showing Trump's approval rating at 36%. He characterized this as polling "at an all-time low" for the former president. "I don't know how much lower you can go," Carville remarked, underscoring the severity of the numbers.
A Prediction of Democratic Control
Carville extended his critique into a political forecast. He predicted that following the 2026 midterm elections, Trump will likely be contending with a Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, and possibly a Democratic-controlled Senate as well. This, in Carville's view, signals the end of Trump's ability to drive a legislative agenda. "I think his presidency, in terms of, like, anything significantly done, is over," he stated bluntly.
Linking Voter Anger to Economic Pain
The strategist elaborated on themes from his recent New York Times opinion piece, arguing that recent Democratic electoral successes stem from "economic pain" felt by Americans. "We're living through the greatest economic inequality since the Roaring Twenties," Carville wrote. He accused Trump of failing to address the soaring cost of living, a central promise of his 2024 campaign. "The people are revolting, and they have been for some time," Carville added, framing this discontent as a "greatest gift" and a "second chance" for Democrats.
In a vivid metaphor for Trump's fading influence, Carville concluded on the podcast, "The power's going out of Trump by the minute. You can just feel it oozing out." His comments present a unified theory connecting Trump's low approval, economic discontent, and a shifting political landscape that could favour Democrats in the coming years.
