MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace began her Tuesday episode of "Deadline White House" discussing a blistering critique from former colleague David Frum, the speechwriter for President George W. Bush.
Frum, who now writes for The Atlantic, penned a column calling President Donald Trump akin to "a man trying to race upward on a downward-moving escalator." The column was published before Trump's Tuesday escalator fiasco at the United Nations.
As Trump continues his race, Frum seems him "pulled ever deeper below—and the escalator keeps moving faster against him."
Wallace called Trump "a flailing, lame duck president" who continues to be "dogged by questions surrounding his relationship with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his administration's handling of the Epstein case."
Meanwhile, she said this happens while in the background, the president is also "facing falling approval ratings on practically every single issue as the list of unfulfilled campaign promises from ending the war in Ukraine on day one to lowering the price of 'the grocery' gets longer and longer by the day."
A new Ipsos and The Washington Post poll shows Trump is so far underwater that he's losing on every major issue. When it comes to the economy, Republicans typically enjoy a lead. Only 40% think Trump is doing a good job on the economy.
As Frum explained, autocracies are about one man, but he needs those willing to promote him and his agenda to succeed. Today, those allies are putting on their own oxygen masks before helping Trump with his.
Wallace used the example of ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who was briefly canceled after a public pressure effort from conservatives. But more First Amendment allies were willing to speak out in support of Kimmel and Disney/ABC backed down.
"It's just one example, just one data point in a pattern we've seen play out all year long for millions of Americans who turned out at the 'No King's' protest to protests against Tesla, or organizing that led to that decisive victory in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Resistance to Donald Trump works," said Wallace. "And it's active and it's alive. And despite the pressure campaign and the climate of fear Donald Trump has created, it's actually growing."
