June 22, 2026
Cracks are showing in Trump’s blue-collar base | Steven Greenhouse
In a revealing analysis, Steven Greenhouse highlights a significant decline in Donald Trump's support among white, blue-collar voters, a demographic crucial to his past electoral victories. As inflation rises and discontent grows over his foreign policy, particularly the war against Iran, many in this group feel betrayed by unmet promises regarding jobs and economic stability. With disapproval ratings climbing, Democrats see an opportunity to capitalize on this disenchantment in the upcoming midterm elections. Greenhouse argues that to effectively engage these voters, Democrats must present compelling solutions that address their economic concerns and frustrations with the current administration.
Stoic Response
Citizens of our great Agora, gather and lend me your ears! We stand at a pivotal moment in our history, where the voices of the working class echo with discontent. A recent analysis reveals a significant decline in support for Donald Trump among white, blue-collar voters—a demographic that once rallied behind his promises. According to a CBS News poll, disapproval among this group has surged to 54%, up from 32% just a year ago. This shift is not merely a statistic; it is a clarion call for all of us to reflect on the virtues of justice, prudence, and fortitude.
As inflation climbs to a painful 4.2%, and the burdens of rising gas and grocery prices weigh heavily on our shoulders, we must ask ourselves: where has the promise of economic stability gone? Many blue-collar Americans, like Peggy Liff, a welder from Ohio, express their frustration, feeling abandoned as their hopes for jobs and lower prices have been dashed. This betrayal is not just a political failure; it is a moral one. We must embody the virtue of justice, demanding accountability from those who govern us and ensuring that the needs of the working class are not overlooked.
Moreover, let us not forget the cardinal virtue of prudence. It is essential that we, as a collective, seek solutions that address the economic concerns of our fellow citizens. The Democratic Party is presented with a unique opportunity to engage these disenchanted voters by offering concrete plans—taxing the wealthy to make childcare affordable, and implementing an excess profits tax on oil companies to lower gas prices. These are not mere political strategies; they are steps toward restoring faith in our democracy and ensuring that every citizen feels valued.
But it is not enough to merely critique the failures of those in power; we must also embody the virtue of fortitude. We must rally together, arm in arm, to advocate for policies that uplift the working class, that provide real solutions to the challenges we face. Let us not be swayed by despair but rather fueled by the potential for change. The time is ripe for action, for each of you to engage in the democratic process, to voice your concerns, and to demand better.
So I charge you, citizens of the Agora: rise up! Engage with your neighbors, discuss the issues that matter, and hold our leaders accountable. Let us be the architects of a future that honors the dignity of every worker, that champions economic justice, and that restores our collective faith in democracy. Together, we can transform this moment of discontent into a powerful movement for change!
Article Rewritten Through Stoic Lens
Journal Entry: Reflections on the State of Affairs
The Nature of Support and Discontent
In observing the shifting tides of allegiance among the blue-collar populace, I am reminded of the impermanence of human favor. Once, a leader garnered the trust of many through promises of stability and prosperity. Yet, as the winds of fortune change, so too do the hearts of men. It is a natural order, reflecting the transient nature of our desires and expectations.
The Burden of Unmet Promises
As inflation rises like a relentless tide, many feel the weight of disappointment. Promises made, such as the return of manufacturing jobs and economic stability, have not materialized. It is in these moments of discontent that we must seek virtue. Rather than lamenting the failures of a leader, we must turn inward and ask ourselves how we might respond to our circumstances with wisdom and resilience.
The Call to Virtue Amidst Discontent
The discontent of the many, particularly among those who toil with their hands, presents an opportunity for virtue. The Democrats, as they seek to engage this disenchanted demographic, must not merely capitalize on the failures of others but rather offer genuine solutions. It is not enough to point out the shortcomings of a leader; one must also illuminate a path forward that addresses the true concerns of the people.
Acceptance of the Greater Order
In the face of rising disapproval ratings and the challenges of foreign entanglements, we must accept that these events unfold according to a greater order. The discontent of the populace, while painful, serves as a reminder of our shared humanity. Each individual grapples with the forces of nature—economic, social, and political—and it is our duty to respond with grace and understanding.
The Pursuit of Justice and Fairness
The widening chasm of wealth and opportunity serves as a clarion call for justice. As we observe the struggles of the working class, we must advocate for policies that reflect fairness and equity. The call for increased support for childcare and affordable housing is not merely a political strategy; it is an ethical imperative. We must strive to create a society where all can thrive, not just the fortunate few.
The Wisdom of Resilience
As the political landscape shifts, let us not be swayed by the ephemeral nature of popularity. Instead, we should cultivate resilience within ourselves and our communities. The dissatisfaction felt by many is a fertile ground for growth and transformation. In this moment of uncertainty, we can choose to embody the virtues of patience, understanding, and action.
Conclusion: Embracing the Present
In conclusion, the current state of affairs serves as a reminder of the ever-changing nature of human relationships and societal structures. Let us embrace the present, not with despair, but with a commitment to virtue and a belief in the potential for renewal. Each challenge presents an opportunity to reflect, to learn, and to grow. Thus, we must engage with the world around us, not as passive observers, but as active participants in the unfolding narrative of our shared existence.
Source Body Text
If any demographic group was key to Donald Trump’s election victories in 2016 and 2024, it was white, blue-collar voters. But in perhaps perilous news for Republicans, Trump’s support from that group has plummeted – as many white, working-class voters have grown upset about everything from increased inflation and gas prices to Trump’s war against Iran. These glaring cracks in Trump’s blue-collar base point to big trouble for Republicans in this November’s midterm elections. In 2024, Trump won 66% of white voters without a college degree, but a new CBS News poll found that 54% of that demographic disapprove of his performance. That was up from 45% disapproval in February (before Trump began bombing Iran) and up sharply from 32% in February 2025. This shows severe cracks in Trump’s white, blue-collar base, a group that candidate Trump wooed by promising to crack down on immigration, to reduce prices on day one, to bring back manufacturing jobs and to not start new foreign wars. Many blue-collar voters see that Trump has failed to deliver on any of these promises except for his massive crackdown on immigrants – that crackdown has grown unpopular, however, after Trump’s masked agents killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Trump’s blue-collar base didn’t get the lower prices that he promised; instead, they face painful 4.2% inflation, the highest rate in three years. Trump has utterly failed on another important promise to blue-collar Americans: to increase manufacturing jobs. Ever since Trump returned to office, the number of factory jobs has declined by 68,000. As for Trump’s promise not to begin any foreign wars, many blue-collar Americans are furious that he launched his unsuccessful war against Iran, which, to their huge dismay, has pushed up gasoline and grocery prices. Peggy Liff, a 57-year-old welder in Ohio who voted three times for Trump, said she was thrilled by the low inflation during Trump’s first term, but now she’s upset with Trump. “He’s concentrating on other things, like overseas, Iran,” she told the Washington Post. “He says he’s doing it for us, but I don’t see where that’s happening.” The fact that a sizable chunk of Trump’s blue-collar base has soured on him should be a boon for Democratic candidates in Iowa, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and other states where there is a large, white working class. To increase their chances of taking back the House and Senate, Democrats need to tap into the growing blue-collar disenchantment with Trump and Republicans. And let’s not forget that it’s not just white, blue-collar voters who have turned against Trump – many working-class African Americans, Hispanics and Asian Americans are also upset that Trump plunged the US into war and that gas prices have soared and that tomato prices are up 32% over the past year, coffee prices up 17% and beef up 13%. While Trump has focused on warring against Iran and building his gilded ballroom and 250ft-tall arch that will mainly be a monument to his ego, blue-collar Americans have been feeling blue about many of Trump’s policies. They dislike his tariffs, which have raised prices on many items, from furniture to coffee to fresh fruit. Many Americans are peeved that while Trump backed more than $1tn in tax cuts for the ultra-rich in his “big, beautiful bill”, he stuck it to working-class Americans by championing a bill that chopped Medicaid and food assistance by over $1tn. Blue-collar Americans can see the country’s rapidly increasing income and wealth equality. A New York Times headline captured the way many non-affluent Americans feel: Wages Are Falling. Wealth Is Surging. No Wonder Americans Are Unhappy. That Times story noted that the same week Elon Musk became the world’s first trillionaire, a Bureau of Labor Statistics report found that surging energy prices had erased 18 months of wage gains for the average American worker. Many blue-collar Americans no doubt dislike that the Trump loves having billionaires at his side, that Trump has pushed repeatedly to weaken labor unions, and that he let Musk run amok slashing federal agencies and firing dedicated federal employees. Because of all these things, Trump’s popularity is in the dumps with blue-collar Americans, even as he seeks to charm them with cage matches at the White House. According to a recent Fox News poll, just 33% of white, blue-collar voters approve of how Trump has handled the economy and just 25% approve of his handling of inflation. In good news for Democrats, a recent NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll found that 44% of white voters who didn’t graduate from college said they were more likely to vote for a Democratic congressional candidate this year than a Republican, up from 30% right before the 2018 midterms. John McLaughlin, a Republican pollster who has long worked for Trump, says this disenchantment is dangerous for Republicans. “It’s working-class voters who are not happy with the Republican party, and they may not come out and vote,” McLaughlin told the New York Times. Trump made things worse for Republicans with some insensitive statements that showed stunning callousness toward the tens of millions of Americans who are struggling economically. Last week, with inflation rising, Trump told reporters: “I love the inflation.” That came a month after Trump said: “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation,” supposedly because he was so concerned about winning the war against Iran. These comments will make for great Democratic campaign ads. But the Democrats need to do more than just attack Trump. They need to put forward ideas that will excite working-class Americans, such as levying new taxes on billionaires to free up billions of dollars to, for instance, make childcare far more affordable. Democrats should also push some of the ideas the Congressional Progressive caucus is pushing, among them making gasoline more affordable by imposing an excess profits tax on big oil companies and using that money to subsidize gas purchases. (Big oil’s profits have soared recently due to the war with Iran.) With housing prices high, the Democrats should offer to make housing more affordable by proposing a $20,000 down-payment assistance to first-time homebuyers. A growing number of Democrats get that it’s important to have a pro-worker message, but not enough do. It has become increasingly clear that Trump and Republicans are doing next to nothing to lift blue-collar Americans, and that means Democrats need to step up. As Trump’s base sours on him, the Democrats’ midterm chances soar. Steven Greenhouse is a journalist and author, focusing on labor and the workplace, as well as economic and legal issues