Trump’s Approval Tanks as GOP Hemorrhages Support — D.C. Crackdown Sparks Backlash

Donald Trump may be tightening his grip on Washington, but his hold on the American electorate is slipping fast. His latest stunt—seizing control of the D.C. police department and installing Pam Bondi as his personal enforcer—feels less like leadership and more like a desperate display of authoritarian theater.

Trump’s national approval rating has sunk into the low 40s, with disapproval approaching 60%. Even among conservatives, support is eroding—down 15 points in just one month. The causes are clear: economic instability, immigration chaos, and growing suspicion over Trump’s ties to the Epstein case. A staggering 70% of Americans believe he’s hiding something.

The Republican Party is bleeding alongside him. With a net favorability of -12.7 points and Democrats leading the generic congressional ballot by nearly four points, the GOP’s electoral prospects are in freefall. Trump is underwater in 13 states he won in 2024, and independents are abandoning him in droves.

Meanwhile, Trump’s militarized takeover of D.C. has sparked fierce backlash. More than 450 federal agents now patrol the streets, with Pam Bondi directing the crackdown under the flimsy pretext of an “emergency.” Violent crime is down 26% in 2025, but Trump’s narrative discards the data in favor of fear, spectacle, and brute force.

“This isn’t law enforcement—it’s political theater with guns,” said one former DOJ official. “Bondi’s legacy is a masterclass in manufactured chaos.”

This isn’t a red wave. It’s a hemorrhage. And unless Republicans stop the bleeding, they’ll be swept out in 2026—dragged down by Trump’s collapsing empire and Bondi’s authoritarian overreach.