Trump claims supporters will cheer even his worst remarks as polls show GOP enthusiasm worries
At a rally in Clarksville, Tennessee, Donald Trump boasted that his base would applaud anything he says, while recent polls indicate a dip in enthusiasm among his 2024 supporters.
Donald Trump addressed a crowd in Clarksville, Tennessee, urging supporters of Senator Bill Hagerty and gubernatorial candidate Marsha Blackburn to turn out for the November midterm elections, while joking that his base would cheer even his most foolish remarks. He asserted his popularity and suggested Republican candidates benefit from their association with him. Recent polling, including one outlet/PF Global survey, found that 26 percent of Trump’s 2024 voters believe GOP candidates should break with him to win, and one outlet/Ipsos poll showed only 30 percent describing themselves as "very enthusiastic" about voting, compared with 48 percent of Kamala Harris supporters.
Pew Research Center data released on October 8 indicated Trump’s approval among his own voters fell to 67 percent, down from 75 percent in July. Despite these signs of waning enthusiasm, summer polls still recorded approval levels around 80 percent or higher. Republican strategist Charlie Gerow emphasized that boosting Republican turnout will be crucial to offset the enthusiasm gap, while noting the party may close the gap by focusing on the threat of Democratic control.
Why it matters
The story highlights potential challenges for Republicans in the 2026 midterms as Trump’s influence may no longer guarantee voter enthusiasm.
How this story developed
- Aug 26 Democrats See New Paths to Flip the Senate in 2026 Midterms
- Sep 25 New interviews highlight the war’s impact on a U.S. retreat and Trump’s renewed Greenland claims.
- Sep 25 Trump’s approval rating has dropped to 32%, prompting more Republicans to distance themselves from his policies.
- Sep 28 The president began a campaign tour of traditionally red states such as Iowa, Florida, Texas and Alaska, as well as Oklahoma and Alabama.
- Sep 30 Ken Paxton told a small fundraiser that the GOP midterm convention in Dallas failed to boost his poll numbers and may have actually lowered them.
- Oct 2 Trump visited Denton to publicly back Paxton.
- Oct 2 Trump and Vance began a joint campaign tour targeting Texas and Florida.
- Oct 2 Democrats posted net voter‑registration gains in Arizona, Maine, Nevada, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
- Oct 5 A newly released audio clip revealed Paxton’s comments about limited control over his campaign messaging.
- Oct 6 A Gallup poll shows Democrats identified by half of U.S. adults, Republicans at 39 % and independents at 45 %.
- Oct 7 The Cook Political Report released a forecast predicting Republican losses in the Senate and House.
- Oct 8 Audio from Paxton’s Washington fundraiser was leaked, revealing his complaints about fuel prices and the Iran war.
- Oct 9 Trump’s tour has added new stops in Ohio and Texas, focusing on defending his record and supporting specific Republican candidates.
- Oct 10 Senior staff and donors have publicly acknowledged they no longer attempt to curb Trump’s agenda.
In this story
Related stories
29 in this thread