# What, if anything, would get Trump's approval to drop below 30%? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 27, 2018, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353 "2018-08-27T13:43:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/1 "2018-08-27T13:43:41Z")
It was Nixon’s dropping to the mid 20s that got leaders in his party to finally jump ship. Party leaders will not lead but _will_ follow. What is it, i_f anything_, that Trump could be proven to have done that would get that very stable base to no longer approve of him, to the degree that he gets down into the 20s and GOP leaders follow off as it goes under? Hypothetically. Anything? Is it true that he could murder someone on camera in the middle of 5th Avenue and still have their support? Would proof of knowing and personal collusion with Russia’s attempt to subvert the American democratic process be dismissed? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/2 "2018-08-27T13:48:10Z")
If he abandoned race-baiting, he’d lose the derplorables while still remaining too damaged to pick up significant support from decent sensible people. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/3 "2018-08-27T14:03:17Z")
Economic crash. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/4 "2018-08-27T14:06:17Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Economic crash. This. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/5 "2018-08-27T14:13:12Z")
Primarily that, but also if he suddenly comes out \*against \*saving the babies and the guns. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/6 "2018-08-27T14:20:14Z")
With W Bush, his approval dropped below 30% when the economy collapsed. The reason seems to be because his approval among republicans dropped to 60%. There really wasn’t much room for his approval to drop among democrats or independents, but republicans consistently gave him 80% approval ratings until the economic collapse. [![](https://content.gallup.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/xmyfbzqeteow-uo_x9bcea.gif) ](https://content.gallup.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/xmyfbzqeteow-uo_x9bcea.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/7 "2018-08-27T14:46:50Z")
An economic collapse would do it. Otherwise, we’re looking at tribal political behavior that allows for a greater sense of support than might otherwise be justified. ---
**Author:** ![pjacks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@pjacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjacks)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/8 "2018-08-27T15:32:35Z")
Some sort of audio recording of Trump making fun of his own voters- saying what idiots they are, how they are the easiest marks he has ever fooled, etc. Even then, a lot of them would say it’s fake audio created by the Deep State anyway, but it might get his approval rating to at least the 20s. An economic crash wouldn’t do it, because Trump and the entire GOP would just blame the Dems for it, and roughly half of voters would agree. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/9 "2018-08-27T15:36:26Z")
Nothing. Not even an economic collapse. Anything Failing Donnie does that doesn’t work will be blamed on Hillary’s emails, Benghazi, Obama’s destruction of the United States, and the Deep State. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/10 "2018-08-27T15:46:30Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Primarily that, but also if he suddenly comes out \*against \*saving the babies and the guns. I agree. [GDP growth was great in Q2](https://www.bea.gov/system/files/gdp2q18_adv_chart.png), [early estimates are looking good for Q3](https://www.frbatlanta.org/cqer/research/gdpnow.aspx), and [the stock market just jumped with news of a re-negotiated NAFTA deal](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/27/us-stocks-to-open-higher-after-powell-signals-further-rate-hikes.html). Oh, and Kavanaugh seems likely to be confirmed. I don’t see many Republicans jumping ship. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/11 "2018-08-27T15:58:29Z")
We’ve discussed this before. In this hypothetical, the best way to drop Trump’s support would be for him to come out in favor of liberal causes: support abortion rights, support single-payer healthcare, accept climate change and plan to fight it, speak in praise of Obama, etc. He would lose his solid base, and would be very unlikely to pick up any liberals/Democrats who hadn’t previously supported him. I don’t think any amount of bad behavior will drop him lower. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/12 "2018-08-27T16:21:21Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > We’ve discussed this before. In this hypothetical, the best way to drop Trump’s support would be for him to come out in favor of liberal causes: support abortion rights, support single-payer healthcare, accept climate change and plan to fight it, speak in praise of Obama, etc. He would lose his solid base, and would be very unlikely to pick up any liberals/Democrats who hadn’t previously supported him. > > I don’t think any amount of bad behavior will drop him lower. If Trump comes out in favor of egalitarianism and multiculturalism, that could cost him some votes. If Trump starts acting like brown people, immigrants, muslims and women are equal to whites, native born Americans, christians and men that may cost him some support from his base. But he also said we should have gun confiscation among potentially dangerous people, and that didn’t phase his base. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/13 "2018-08-27T16:21:47Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > We’ve discussed this before. In this hypothetical, the best way to drop Trump’s support would be for him to come out in favor of liberal causes: support abortion rights, support single-payer healthcare, accept climate change and plan to fight it, speak in praise of Obama, etc. He would lose his solid base, and would be very unlikely to pick up any liberals/Democrats who hadn’t previously supported him. > > I don’t think any amount of bad behavior will drop him lower. Indeed. Worse behavior would only cement his base even more. If he started doing decent things, his base would consider him a traitor. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/14 "2018-08-27T16:45:50Z")
No idea. The mindset of those who consistently approve of someone who is on record bragging about mistreating women and violating their consent, multiple times (the famous Access Hollywood tape as well as interviews like the one with Howard Stern), is so alien to me that I have no idea what could make them change their views. ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/15 "2018-08-27T16:47:14Z")
At this point, I’m thinking he would need to personally shoot each person in his base in order to lower his ratings… ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/16 "2018-08-27T16:47:44Z")
Ruth Bader Ginsberg retires and Trump nominates a liberal justice “to maintain ideological diversity” on the Supreme Court. I can dream, can’t I? ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/17 "2018-08-27T17:02:59Z")
He could rape a busload of nuns and 30% would go "_ **FUCK YEAH."** _ ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/18 "2018-08-27T17:14:25Z")
When it’s revealed that he’s not rich. To his base, rich=smart=good leader. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/19 "2018-08-27T18:02:19Z")
He seems intent on destroying the Obama economy with his brainless trade schemes, so perhaps we’ll find out. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353/20 "2018-08-27T18:12:05Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > He seems intent on destroying the Obama economy with his brainless trade schemes, so perhaps we’ll find out. 4.1% growth last quarter. I suppose that’s “destroying” the Obama economy in a way. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-get-trumps-approval-to-drop-below-30/820353.md?page=2)