Trump Slams GOP Trade Moves as Reckoning Looms Ahead of Midterms
President Donald Trump took to social media on Wednesday afternoon to express his frustrations with the GOP's handling of recent trade moves. In a series of posts, he reposted a July tweet by right-wing commentator Matt Van Swol that warned of an impending midterm reckoning due to the party's failure to pass key legislation, including a voter ID law pushed by Trump.
Van Swol listed several priorities that the GOP has allegedly neglected, including passing the voter ID law and addressing immigration issues. He also criticized the National Baseball Hall of Fame committee for denying pitcher Roger Clemens' entry, calling those who voted 'a bunch of jealous people with far less Talent.'
Trump's social media spree came as his renewed trade war with Canada has rankled Republicans in border states and those with heavy agriculture constituencies. The tariffs imposed by the US have sparked a retaliatory response from Canada, which has also criticized Trump's decision to relax restrictions on some beef imports.
According to polling averages, Trump's approval rating stands at 38.2%, near his second-term low of 38.1% reached earlier this month. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that support for US military action in Iran has declined by three points, to 31%, and down six points from March.