James Carville insists Trump administration is ‘collapsing' despite POTUS' stable approval ratings
WASHINGTON, DC: Democratic strategist James Carville is doubling down on his February prediction that President Donald Trump’s second administration would crumble within 30 days.
Speaking with journalist Dan Abrams on Thursday, August 7, Carville said the downfall was already unfolding.
James Carville insists public dissatisfaction with Donald Trump is evident in election trends
“I think it’s collapsing now,” he told Dan Abrams. “Thirty days — 180 days, okay. It is collapsing right in front of you.”
Carville argued that public dissatisfaction with Trump is evident in election trends, pointing to Democratic leads in key races such as the Virginia governor’s race. Referencing polls showing Democrat Abigail Spanberger ahead of Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, Carville predicted a decisive win.
“It’s gonna be a lot. It’s not going to be close,” he said, adding that Democrats are well-positioned to dominate in New Jersey and beyond.
A July Virginia Commonwealth Poll showed Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears at 37% and Democrat Abigail Spanberger leading with 49%.
Still, Abrams pressed Carville on his outlook. “But you said that you thought this administration was in the midst of a collapse,” he said. “I think it is. Yes, I do,” Carville replied without hesitation.
“And you think you were right?” Abrams asked.
Carville stood firm. “Yes. I think there are — they’re somewhere about 37% or 40% approval. Their economic numbers are terrible, are just terrible. And I think we’re running away with every election we’ve had. We’re going to run away with Virginia. We’re going to win New Jersey. We’re starting to recruit every candidate that we want,” he said.
James Carville dismisses Donald Trump's approval ratings, predicts heavy defeat for administration
During the discussion, Dan Abrams highlighted polling data suggesting that Donald Trump’s approval ratings remain relatively stable.
“I pulled up the recent approval polling from The New York Times and Real Clear Politics, and the aggregation puts Trump’s approval between 44 and 45.8, with 53 and 51.4 disapproval, as of August the 6th. That’s not a collapse,” Abrams said. “That’s basically a little bit above where he was.”
Carville pushed back, rejecting the notion that these figures accurately capture the political landscape ahead of the midterms and beyond.
“I don’t want to get into this poll, that poll, this aggregate poll,” he said, instead pointing to surveys from UMass Amherst and Gallup. “I see something completely different. I’m very, very, very confident this administration is going to be widely rejected in the elections coming up; and they’re gonna be particularly widely rejected in the elections in 2026.”
