To capture the current drift of public opinion, Trump is near the disapproval levels Biden was at on the eve of his catastrophic debate performance in June 2024. That was after three and a half years. Trump is at six months.

It’s one of my governing beliefs that you can’t transform a state like the American republic from a civic democracy to an autocracy or competitive authoritarianism if a substantial majority of the population opposes it. And there’s no question that substantial opposition is what we’re seeing.

What’s clear is that Trump has no intention of tamping down the politics of provocation and aggression toward domestic enemies. It’s against both his political goals and his temperament. It’s just as clear that these policies are driving ever greater levels not only of opposition but intense opposition.