Donald Trump’s Improved Image: Approval or Amnesia?
With Donald Trump’s presidential legacy all but sealed and his new post-presidency activities well underway, one wonders how his image has fared since leaving office. The answer, surprisingly, appears to be: rather well.
Since his departure from the White House, various polls have shown a positive improvement in the public’s opinion of the former President. A poll conducted in April 2021 revealed that 58% of Americans have a favorable opinion of Trump, with his approval numbers in swing states such as Arizona and Georgia reaching even higher. This number holds true even with the impeachment and Senate trial for inciting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol: an event that was largely seen as a blemish on the former President’s reputation.
But what is the cause of this approval surge? It appears that for many of Trump’s supporters, their view of the former President is largely based in nostalgia. Many look back fondly on Trump’s first term, recalling policies such as his creation of theSpace Force, renegotiated trade deals, and the lowering of taxes for the middle class as a period of relative peace and prosperity.
However, it is likely not just nostalgia fueling this trend. Additionally, Trump’s vocal and enthusiastic support of many of the same politicians who supported him during his presidency could be driving a new wave of approval. But it could also be that the public have simply chosen to forget about the controversies of Trump’s administration which included the infamous Russia scandal, his now-moribund Paycheck Protection Program, and the now-defunct plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Ultimately, it appears that Trump’s improved image is a mix of both approval and amnesia. His supporters have chosen to remember the positive moments of his term and to forget the missteps and shortcomings. It is unclear if this increased approval will last past the 2024 presidential election; but for now, it seems the public has decided to weigh the cognitive dissonance rather in the President’s favor than against.
Donald Trump’s Improved Image: Approval or Amnesia?
With Donald Trump’s presidential legacy all but sealed and his new post-presidency activities well underway, one wonders how his image has fared since leaving office. The answer, surprisingly, appears to be: rather well.
Since his departure from the White House, various polls have shown a positive improvement in the public’s opinion of the former President. A poll conducted in April 2021 revealed that 58% of Americans have a favorable opinion of Trump, with his approval numbers in swing states such as Arizona and Georgia reaching even higher. This number holds true even with the impeachment and Senate trial for inciting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol: an event that was largely seen as a blemish on the former President’s reputation.
But what is the cause of this approval surge? It appears that for many of Trump’s supporters, their view of the former President is largely based in nostalgia. Many look back fondly on Trump’s first term, recalling policies such as his creation of theSpace Force, renegotiated trade deals, and the lowering of taxes for the middle class as a period of relative peace and prosperity.
However, it is likely not just nostalgia fueling this trend. Additionally, Trump’s vocal and enthusiastic support of many of the same politicians who supported him during his presidency could be driving a new wave of approval. But it could also be that the public have simply chosen to forget about the controversies of Trump’s administration which included the infamous Russia scandal, his now-moribund Paycheck Protection Program, and the now-defunct plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Ultimately, it appears that Trump’s improved image is a mix of both approval and amnesia. His supporters have chosen to remember the positive moments of his term and to forget the missteps and shortcomings. It is unclear if this increased approval will last past the 2024 presidential election; but for now, it seems the public has decided to weigh the cognitive dissonance rather in the President’s favor than against.
