New York Times columnist Frank Bruni argues that many of President Donald Trump’s former supporters have come to see him as a liar “in the biggest, most consequential way,” a shift he says helps explain Republicans’ trouble in the midterms, in a “Conversation” with conservative fellow columnist Bret Stephens.
Bruni says Trump’s long record of falsehoods, about his wealth, crowds and more, was something many supporters shrugged off as showmanship, as long as they trusted him on a better economy and ending costly foreign wars. He argues that tariffs and tantrums made inflation worse, his corruption showed he’s looking out for himself, and a war in Iran now more than eight months old has mostly embarrassed the country.
Stephens agrees with the larger point.
In his view, millions of voters excused Trump’s lying and poor character because they thought he’d take on a rigged, self-serving elite, and his second term shows corruption “at the core of the Trump brand.” He says the economy isn’t a catastrophe, but that matters little to people struggling with gas prices and mortgage rates above 7 percent.
Stephens names other factors: former President Joe Biden is no longer a foil, immigration now hurts Republicans more than Democrats, and the culture-war issues of 2024 have receded. He adds that Trump-endorsed candidates such as Ken Paxton and Mike Collins could cost Republicans the Senate. Bruni notes every Republican is running as a Trump surrogate, however they try to distance themselves.
Both avoid firm predictions. Stephens recalls writing a column after the 2022 midterms titled “Donald Trump Is Finally Finished,” which obviously didn't end up being the case.
Recent polls indicate voters are likely to hand Republicans a wipeout in the House, and could also give Democrats a Senate majority.
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