Karl Rove: Donald Trump's Presidency Will 'End Badly' as 'Americans Are Already Exhausted'

Rove Issues Stark Warning About Trump's Second Term Direction

Former White House adviser Karl Rove issued a stark warning about the trajectory of Donald Trump’s second term, cautioning that the president’s strategy of political retribution and aggressive tariff policies is wearing thin on the American public. LBJ Library from Austin / Wikimedia

Americans Wanted Economic Relief, Not More Turmoil, Rove Says

In a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed, Karl Rove wrote, “We aren’t 100 days into Donald Trump’s second term, and many Americans are already exhausted. They’ve had way too much thrown at them.” He argued that the American electorate made their expectations clear in the 2024 election: lower prices, a stronger economy, improved border control, and national security. While there has been movement on border enforcement and military rebuilding, economic performance remains a sore spot. The White House / Wikimedia

Tariff Plans Spark Concern Over Rising Costs and Confused Policy Goals

"Mr. Trump’s campaign promise to break inflation has been replaced by a fixation on raising tariffs," Rove noted, adding that nearly three-quarters of Americans believe these tariffs will raise consumer prices. He also criticized the unclear goals of the trade policy: "Is the goal getting trading partners to lower their tariffs on U.S. goods and services? Or replacing our income tax with high tariffs on foreign goods?" The White House / Wikimedia

Rove Questions Trump’s Leadership Style, Warns of GOP Fallout from ‘Revenge Politics’

Rove, who served under President George W. Bush, also questioned Trump’s leadership style, remarking that "discipline has never been one of Trump’s strengths." He warned that "most of the president’s revenge attempts will end badly for him," predicting long-term political consequences for Republicans who adopt a similar posture. Collection: Records of the White House Photo Office (George W. Bush Administration), 1/20/2001 - 1/20/2009 / Wikimedia

Polls Show Trump’s Approval Rating Slipping Early in Second Term

Some polling indicates Trump’s approval numbers have flipped since the early days of his second term. While he began with 50.5% approval, that number has dropped to 46.9%, with disapproval now topping 50%, according to RealClearPolitics. "It’s the 15 to 20 percent of voters who didn’t like their choices last year that matter most," Rove recently emphasized. The Trump White House / Wikimedia

Rove Predicts Things Will Worsen Before They Improve

Rove concluded with a grim outlook: "My hunch is things will get worse before they get better. That won’t matter for Mr. Trump’s ardent fans... but in the non-MAGA world — which includes independents and Republicans — the start of Mr. Trump’s second term has been exhausting." Damon Higgins / USA TODAY NETWORK

Global Trade Realities Demand a Rethink on Tariffs, Rove Argues

He previously warned against excessive optimism after the market tumbled following Trump’s tariff announcement on “Liberation Day.” Emphasizing the global economic landscape, Rove stated: "The U.S. population is only 4 percent of the world population, 96 percent of our customers... are outside of the United States." He urged the administration to moderate its rhetoric, drawing a comparison to what he called "happy talk" during the Biden administration that failed to convince a skeptical public. DAMON HIGGINS/THE PALM BEACH DAILY NEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK