Veteran Republican strategist Karl Rove worries that President Donald Trump is locked into a losing strategy right now, but thinks it’s possible to sway public opinion in his direction ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal published Monday, Rove wrote: “There are signs that the public is growing tired of his hyperbole and insatiable desire for revenge. Increasingly, they may only listen to the offensive or cruel things he says.”

“Has the president convinced himself that he does not need to sell his policies and actions?” asked. “It seems like he thinks he can get people to agree with him by claiming that his accomplishments are the biggest, best, and most amazing in American history.”

Republican strategist Karl Rove, seen here at the 2024 Atlantic Festival in September, shared his thoughts on President Donald Trump's midterm election challenges in an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal published Monday.
Republican strategist Karl Rove, seen here at the 2024 Atlantic Festival in September, shared his thoughts on President Donald Trump’s midterm election challenges in an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal published Monday.

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Rove, who was a top adviser to President George W. Bush and is a frequent critic of Trump, described how the White House could change its approach to find more appeal to voters, later writing: “Americans would be much more likely to support Mr. Trump if he explained what he is doing and asked for patience while his administration makes the necessary changes.”

“But that’s not his way,” he added.

“Presidents do better when they under-promise and over-deliver,” Rove continued. “The opposite—promoting too much and not delivering enough—infuriates voters. They often take out their anger at the ballot box.”

The figures agree with the sentiment of the veteran Republican consultant. The president’s approval rating fell to a second-term low of 36% in the late November Gallup poll.

Rove wrote that the
Rove wrote that “the public is tired” of Trump’s “hyperbole and insatiable desire for retribution.”

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Adding another complication to the mix, Rove also said the Trump administration’s continued missteps related to the late Jeffrey Epstein cannot be overstated.

“Many people feel the need to place him at the center of a global conspiracy of rich and powerful people,” he continued, referring to the well-connected financier and convicted sex offender.

“These accomplices are said to have murdered him in prison because of the threat he posed to them,” he continued. “Mr. Trump’s failure to accomplish the objectives of this vast plot has undermined his supporters’ confidence in his Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”