Resistance to Trump Is Getting Organized

For some time now, the Republican Party has been under the control of MAGA loyalists, which has weakened the resistance of traditional Republicans and strengthened Trump’s position. As for the Democrats, they have appeared lost since their defeat in November.

Lately, however, Donald Trump’s luster appears to be fading. Unfavorable polls, divisions within the Republican Party, and increased criticism from usually supportive media outlets are attracting attention.

The recent “Signalgate” controversy that involved communications about a military attack sent over a commercial messaging app that included Vice President JD Vance and gave access to the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic, will be subject to a Senate investigation.

The mishandling of this incident has been universally criticized, including by The Wall Street Journal and Fox News, conservative media outlets usually favorable to Trump. True to form, Trump responded to the criticism by calling it “fake news” and a “witch hunt.” But the damage is done, and now people are raising questions about the competence of the administration’s top brass.

Currently, many of Trump’s recent executive orders are before the courts. In fact, Trump has lost more than 45 cases in the lower courts. His subsequent attacks on the judiciary, including his push to impeach dissenting judges, have been met with a rebuke from conservative Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

Trump’s main ally, Elon Musk, is also embroiled in controversy with the sweeping cuts made by DOGE, the new “efficiency department” he runs. As evidence, town hall meetings in Republican districts are seeing a rise in voter anger, in stark contrast to Trump’s early days in office. Some meetings have simply been canceled altogether. What will happen when DOGE’s cuts seriously affect Social Security, Medicaid, health and education services?

Although polls on the deportation of immigrants without documentation show public support for these measures, polling results on the cost of living and confidence in the economy are less rosy, with approval rates under 50%.

We also have to highlight Democrat Susan Crawford’s election victory in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, in the first electoral setback for Trump since his return to the White House. The president and his circle pulled out all the stops to assure a Republican victory in the state he won last November.

When you add up all these developments, it is clear that the honeymoon is coming to an end.

Grave Economic Concerns

What stands out the most from the polls is that the economy remains a central concern. A recent Fox News poll found that 71% of Americans believe the country is headed for a recession. Indeed, Trump himself set the stage for a recession in a recent statement, something all his predecessors have carefully avoided.

The president’s decision to impose tariffs on trusted economic partners, starting with the United States’ closest neighbors and allies, Canada and Mexico, is sparking serious concern. This is true both on Wall Street, with its eyes fixed on the constant swings of stock market, and among the public, which fears rising inflation and unemployment.

It’s clear that the “American Golden Age” that Trump promised for Day 1 of his term is late to arrive.

The U.S. tariff initiatives are also sending shock waves through the geopolitical world. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared recently that the old partnership between the two countries “is over.” The tone is similar to that coming from Mexico, the European Union and Asia.

While all of the United States’ partners are treading carefully, several are announcing retaliatory tariffs. Most importantly, it is clear that all of them are preparing to implement a strategy of economic diversification that will not benefit Americans.

Trump’s other decisions and declarations concerning organizations like the World Trade Organization, NATO and USAID only reinforce the notion that “America First” limits America’s credibility and its commitment beyond its own interests. In particular, the way Trump treated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February made it clear that America’s global leadership is in decline.

There will be midterm elections in November 2026 and control of Congress will be at stake. While it’s too early to make predictions, it is clear that resistance to Trump and his policies is growing both domestically and internationally. We can certainly expect this resistance to gain momentum in the months to come.