The White House has leaned into a new legally dubious strategy: running propaganda ads funded by taxpayer dollars. The latest is a head scratcher: straight-up propaganda touting Trump’s least popular issue, the Iran war.
Trump’s approval rating is at rock bottom, 31%, and it’s being dragged way down largely by his war in Iran. It’s one thing for him to lean into flaunting his decision to use taxpayer money to pay for propaganda. But to do it on his least popular issue is certainly a choice.
It’s like putting marble sinks in an airplane – something Trump once tried to do; no one asked for it and it’ll lead to disaster.
And if you’re wondering why he’d do this now, just 33 days out from the midterms, my answer to you would be: why not? He’d do it at any time. There’s no rhyme or reason as to when a narcissist decides to engage in narcissism. As far as Trump is concerned, he - and by association, all of his decisions - are perfect. So it should come as no surprise that it doesn’t seem to occur to him that there could be downstream negative effects to reminding voters of his party’s biggest liability right now.
Republicans who are fighting for their lives in races across the country are having to answer for the fallout from Trump’s dumpster fire of a war. It’s sending gas prices surging, decimating farmers’ ability to make ends meet, and serves as a glaring slap in the face to voters who believed Trump’s promises of “no new wars.” And now those very voters are being reminded of all of this in between Fox News hits.
But this is what they asked for. Republicans have had so many opportunities to turn this thing around - there have been 20 war powers votes in the House and Senate since the war started in February - and they’ve just blown past every single off ramp. So now, a month out from the election, Republicans have no choice but to stand by their man as he reminds their angry voters that, in addition to spending a fortune on gas, they’re spending a billion dollars a day on this war.
Because fiscal resposibility. Or something.
He’s tried to justify the commercials, by saying “These are ads for the country… I’m not promoting myself because I’m not running for office. I’m promoting the country.” OK, but he’s also been saying, please pretend like I’m on the ballot when you’re voting. So, his logic, like his brain, is mushy.
And look, I’m more than happy to do my patriotic duty as well by promote this ad, if that’s what Trump wants. It’s my honor and privilege to broadcast exactly what the GOP’s priority is - to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars - so that it stays top of mind for every single voter heading to the polls in November.
You’re welcome, Donald.
It won't be long before Trump's approval rating is in the high teens. But that's not the kind of high teens he wants to surround himself with…
He has to be the stupidest most ill informed person ever!! He just does not get it!!