Trump’s Inevitable Betrayal of His Supporters - The Atlantic

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Key Broken Promises

Donald Trump's second term has been characterized by a failure to deliver on key campaign promises, leading to widespread disillusionment among his supporters. His economic policies, particularly tariffs, have contradicted his promises of prosperity and affordability, harming both businesses and consumers. His foreign policy has also seen him flip-flop on key issues, betraying both dovish and hawkish voters.

Economic Betrayal

Trump's imposition of steep tariffs, despite prior promises of economic prosperity, has led to increased prices and economic hardship for many Americans. This has impacted businesses like Amazon and Tesla, creating significant backlash from powerful supporters.

  • Tariffs on consumer goods contradict promises of economic prosperity
  • High-profile CEOs like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk have expressed discontent
  • Oil and gas industry, a major financial backer, has been negatively impacted

Foreign Policy Failures

Trump's foreign policy, specifically concerning the Middle East, has also faced considerable criticism. His attempts to broker peace in Gaza while simultaneously supporting Israeli settlements and restricting Palestinian rights have alienated both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel voters.

  • Contradictory stances on Gaza peace and support for Israel
  • Alienation of both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel voters
  • Potential new Iran nuclear deal resembles the Obama-era agreement, angering hawkish supporters.

Consequences

Trump's broken promises have led to plummeting approval ratings and threaten his party's success in the midterms. His transactional approach, built on making promises without commitment to a wider policy vision, has proven unsustainable.

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