[candiddevmike]

It's starting to matter. Trump's downfall will be his base seeing him as anything but a successful, smart businessman. He's struggling to control the narrative with how many gaffs and scandals have occurred, and it's starting to hit his base and his brand:

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-approval-rating-update...

The tariffs are probably going to be a historical "turn of the tide" moment.

[brookst]

It’s definitely a test of whether we’ve got a political problem or a cult problem. I’m not as optimistic as you.

[sorcerer-mar]

We have both, but the cult isn't (by itself) strong enough to give itself political power.

The disaffected are who control the reins and they are not liking what they're seeing. We just need to make sure they have an alternative.

[3eb7988a1663]

I cannot stand to watch, but I am curious how Fox News is presenting the latest events. Without that propaganda piece supporting the administration, how long can support be maintained.

[TylerE]

They presented it by removing the stock ticket for the broadcast and otherwise ignoring it.

[rsynnott]

That’s maybe doable as long as the major impact is just the stock market. Most people do not pay much attention to the stock markets, at least not day by day. However, within weeks, price increases from the US tariffs and demand decreases from the Chinese tariffs will start to hit, and those will likely be more difficult to paper over.

[bnjms]

A cult problem. But cult problems can be solved too. Trumpism might be cult-lite but it’s not something people cannot be led to see as harmful. Find what hooked them. Show that the outcome isn’t as Trump implied. Frame the failure as intentional rather than unintentional — Trumps usual approach to avoiding responsibility. Allow them to save face.

[toomuchtodo]

The cult also evaporates at the leader’s passing, and we all pass eventually.

[bediger4000]

Kim Jung Un is the grandson of Kim Il Sung. Not all cults evaporate at the founder's death.

[rsynnott]

That doesn’t seem particularly likely in Trump’s case, though; it’s hard to see his kids being compelling.

[bediger4000]

Respectfully, it's hard to see Trump himself as compelling. My money is on Eric: behind every great man is a great woman. Lara Trump is pretty dang ambitious.

[pstuart]

I do agree that saving face would help but his people are still ready revere him while still being angry at Musk or any fallout from a Trump decree.

His cult sees him as he was presented on The Apprentice -- rich, powerful, rich, and wise, and rich. Rich is good and if he's rich he's double plus good.

I think the only end to his cult is his shuffling off this mortal coil.