‘The country’s starting to turn away’: James Carville sees a new problem for Trump
WASHINGTON, DC: Democratic strategist James Carville said President Trump’s bigger political vulnerability may be Americans disengaging from him after a decade of intense attention among voters.
Carville distinguished that shift from Trump’s weak approval numbers, saying the country is beginning to “turn away from him” as his standing falls.
He made the remarks Thursday, August 13, on an episode of the 'Politics War Room' podcast about Trump’s standing in Republican politics.
Carville says Trump is losing relevance
Trump’s Republican support is the most under-covered story in American politics, Carville said, arguing that “it is falling” and estimating it at about 80 percent in most polls.
“I think the most under-covered story in American politics today is Trump’s Republican number,” Carville said.
“It’s like — it is falling,” he added. “I mean, it’s falling quickly.”
Carville said Americans have been focused on Trump for years, repeatedly describing the political conversation as “Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump.”
“Sure, his polling numbers are down, but he’s just becoming less relevant in people’s minds,” Carville said.
According to a polling average from Decision Desk HQ, Trump’s approval rating was sitting at 40.3 percent on Thursday afternoon, while his disapproval rating was at 56.8 percent.
Trump has faced a separate Carville prediction
Carville’s latest comments follow a prediction he made Wednesday, August 5, about what could happen if Republicans suffer a major defeat in the 2026 midterms.
At the time, Carville said Trump’s power would “just seep right out” after a decisive Republican loss and claimed that “People really don’t care what he says anymore.”
He predicted Trump would leave the presidency by April 15 if Republicans lost control of the House and potentially the Senate, which Carville said could lead to congressional hearings investigating Trump and his administration.
That earlier prediction focused on a possible loss of political power after the midterms.
His latest comments instead center on whether Americans are becoming less engaged with Trump himself.
Democratic strategist predicts a Trump exit after defeat
Carville previously argued that Trump’s influence could decline rapidly after a major Republican defeat, saying that change would “accelerate in January” if Republicans lost control of Congress.
He also envisioned Trump resigning and having Vice President JD Vance pardon him before leaving office.
Carville said there is “some doubt as to the legality of a self-pardon,” while arguing that Vance would have the presidential power to pardon Trump.
“If I were to be wrong and he were to serve his four-year term, he would still resign two days before to be sure he got the pardon,” Carville said.
