BREAKING: Trump GOES NUTS After Rachel Maddow TORCHES Him LIVE On Air — The On-Camera Moment That Left the Studio STUNNED
WASHINGTON — In the early hours of the morning, Donald Trump turned to his favored outlet, Truth Social, to issue a familiar rebuke. His target was Rachel Maddow, the prime-time host on MSNBC, whom Mr. Trump labeled “the enemy of the people” while predicting her imminent removal from the air.
The outburst came shortly after Ms. Maddow devoted a lengthy segment of her program to a detailed examination of polling data, legal developments, and growing public discontent with the Trump administration. The episode underscored a recurring dynamic of Mr. Trump’s political life: sharp media criticism followed by personal counterattacks, often delivered in the quiet hours of the night.
Ms. Maddow’s broadcast centered on a series of national polls from ABC News, CNN, The Washington Post and The Associated Press, all of which painted a bleak picture for the president. According to the surveys she cited, Mr. Trump’s approval rating had fallen to the mid-30s, with disapproval surpassing 60 percent — a figure worse than his standing in the days following the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
The polling showed particular vulnerability on issues Mr. Trump has long claimed as strengths. On the economy, respondents expressed disapproval by margins exceeding 20 points. On health care, disapproval reached nearly 70 percent. On immigration and foreign policy, areas central to the administration’s messaging, voters again registered net-negative assessments.
“These are not soft numbers,” Ms. Maddow told viewers, emphasizing that the data reflected consistent trends across multiple polling organizations rather than a single outlier survey.
Beyond national polling, the program highlighted a series of localized flashpoints that suggest broader dissatisfaction. In Alabama, town hall meetings with Republican lawmakers have devolved into hostile exchanges, as constituents pressed representatives about rising electricity prices, expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies, and the real-world effects of tariffs. Health care officials in the state have warned that as many as 100,000 residents could lose coverage if federal tax credits lapse, placing additional strain on already struggling hospitals.
Similar scenes have unfolded in other traditionally Republican-leaning areas. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, local television stations have aired footage of anti-Trump demonstrations, with protesters carrying signs opposing immigration crackdowns and foreign military actions. Such images, once rare in deep-red regions, have become more common in recent months.
Ms. Maddow also revisited the legal history surrounding Mr. Trump and his inner circle, noting that multiple former advisers, campaign officials and business executives have been convicted of crimes ranging from tax fraud to obstruction of justice. While Mr. Trump has repeatedly dismissed these cases as politically motivated, the cumulative effect, analysts say, has contributed to public perceptions of chaos and ethical lapses.
The president’s response — attacking the press — is a strategy that has served him well with his core supporters. But political strategists from both parties suggest it may be losing effectiveness with a broader electorate grappling with rising costs of living and uncertainty about health care and economic stability.
“What we’re seeing is fatigue,” said one Republican consultant who requested anonymity. “Voters are less interested in media fights and more focused on whether their lives are getting easier or harder.”
Mr. Trump’s late-night post was not his first attack on Ms. Maddow, nor is it likely to be his last. Yet the timing was notable: it followed not only a widely viewed broadcast but also a series of unfavorable headlines about the administration’s policy outcomes and internal tensions.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Maddow addressed business leaders and political donors who have continued to support Mr. Trump, warning that public opinion appeared to be shifting decisively. Aligning with an increasingly unpopular president, she argued, carried reputational and political risks.
Whether such warnings will alter the broader political trajectory remains uncertain. Mr. Trump has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to defy conventional expectations. Still, the convergence of declining approval ratings, grassroots protests, and economic anxiety suggests a presidency under mounting pressure — and a media battle that reflects deeper struggles over power, credibility, and public trust in American politics.