In the latest twist of the Trump presidency, the president's incendiary rhetoric and tone-deaf response to the unrest in Minneapolis have left his Republican allies on edge and scrambling to distance themselves. What this really means is that the cracks in the president's support are starting to show, as even his most ardent defenders struggle to justify his actions.
A Firestorm of Controversy
The catalyst was Trump's tweet threatening "when the looting starts, the shooting starts" - a phrase with a dark history of racist police brutality. This sparked outrage across the political spectrum, with Republican senators quickly distancing themselves from the president's incendiary rhetoric.
Even Trump's go-to media mouthpiece, Fox News, appeared to part ways with the commander-in-chief, with anchor Bret Baier condemning the tweet as "not the right way to handle this." The bigger picture here is that Trump's divisive approach is starting to erode his support, even among his most reliable allies.
A Presidency in Crisis?
This latest misstep comes at a precarious time for the Trump administration, with the president's approval ratings mired in the low 40s amid the COVID-19 pandemic and economic turmoil. The unrest in Minneapolis has only exacerbated these challenges, with the president's tone-deaf and confrontational response further alienating moderate voters that he will need to secure re-election.
As the 2020 election approaches, Trump's allies are likely growing increasingly nervous about the political fallout from his divisive rhetoric and actions. With Biden holding a commanding lead in national polls, the president may be running out of time to course-correct and reconnect with the broader electorate. The question now is whether Trump can regain his footing or if this latest crisis will further erode his political standing.