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Carville: Trump's Grip on Power Is Rapidly Eroding as Approval Falls to 36%

James Carville says President Trump’s political power is quickly slipping as approval dips to 36 percent and a series of controversies clouds the administration. Carville warned that looming health premium increases and broader economic pain are fueling voter frustration. He predicts Democrats could gain ground in the 2026 midterms and urged his party to adopt a strong, populist economic agenda to address inequality and avert social unrest.

02:02 PM, 12/02/2025Politics
Carville: Trump's Grip on Power Is Rapidly Eroding as Approval Falls to 36%

Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville says President Donald Trump’s hold on power is quickly weakening as voter discontent grows and a string of administration controversies creates an impression of disorder around the White House.

“The power’s going out of Trump by the minute. You can just feel it oozing out,”

Carville, 81, pointed to a recent Gallup poll showing the president’s approval rating at 36 percent — the lowest of his second term — and warned that the political and economic headwinds are compounding.

Economy and policy pain

Carville argued that many voters increasingly blame the 79-year-old president for persistent economic pressures. He highlighted looming healthcare premium increases that could affect more than 20 million people after a decision not to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies. He also criticized the president’s failure to deliver on promises to eliminate inflation and “make America affordable again,” citing a cooling jobs picture, tariff moves that have hurt some farmers, and market volatility.

Political consequences

“I don’t see how this gets better for them, I really don’t,” Carville said, predicting the political fallout will benefit Democrats in the 2026 midterms and could leave Trump a lame-duck president. He suggested a Democratic House is likely and said a Democratic Senate is increasingly possible, citing recent upsets and broad victories for Democrats around the country.

Carville also urged Democrats to run on a vigorous economic message. In a recent opinion piece, he called for a populist economic agenda aimed at tackling rising inequality and addressing the acute economic anxieties affecting younger Americans.

Warnings about unrest

Warning that widening inequality risks social unrest, Carville said younger generations “see no future” — unable to imagine buying a home or affording education — while older savers and affluent Americans have done comparatively well. He warned that perceived policy choices that favor the wealthy and cut social programs could fuel anger and unrest unless policymakers act to reduce inequality.

Carville also criticized the administration’s focus on high-profile White House renovations, including an expensive ballroom project the president has discussed funding with private donors.

The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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