"Says Who?" The Polls, the Cult, and the Trump Mirage

Polls don’t measure loyalty. They measure fleeting opinions. And, Trump’s supporters aren’t fleeting. They’re fanatics.

Ah, the polls. Those sacred cows of politics and political journalism. And the pollsters…how they love to trot out their numbers, their margins of error, their scientific predictions. But let me tell you, I’ve seen this shit movie before. In 2016, when I told CNN’s Brianna Keilar, “Says who?” about Hillary’s lead over Trump, the media called me delusional. Then, I was right. Trump won. Now, they’re at it again; peddling their “mixed” polls like they’re selling NFT’s at a MAGA rally.

Recent surveys taken between February 14th through the 28th claim Trump’s approval hovers between 46% and 51%. Mixed, they say. Divided, they claim. But let’s be real, these numbers are as reliable as a Trump tweet about “gasoline and groceries. ending wars in 24 hours and balancing the budget within the first year.” One day, he’s at 51% approval (Quantus Insights); the next, he’s underwater at 46% (Economist/YouGov). The margins of error? Plus or minus 6 points. A joke. The sample sizes? Generally between 1000 and 1600 surveyed. A fraction of the cult size that worships him. Polls are worthless; they are merely snapshots of a moment, not indicative at all of the fever dream that is Trumpism.

And don’t even get me started on the “economic concerns” they cite as his eventual downfall. The economy? Please. Trump’s base doesn’t care about inflation or consumer prices. Most MAGA do not even understand the concept or how to spell it. They care about him. They care about the man who told them they are right to hate the “deep state,” to fear immigrants, to distrust the “elites.” The economy is just a prop in his presidential reality show.

But, here’s the kicker. Despite the polls, despite the chaos, Trump’s GOP support remains north of 90%. The highest in history. Why? Because the party isn’t a party; no, it’s a cult. They don’t care if he breaks promises. They don’t care if he lies. They don’t care if he’s making a fortune off of them. They care about perceived power. They care about grievances. They care about being marginalized. And Trump gives them all this and more.

Take just some of his Day 1 promises: tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada? Still pending. Ending the Ukraine war? Not there yet, but soon. Canceling the EV mandate? Done. But the base doesn’t hold him accountable. They don’t care that he’s unable to deliver and walking back essentially every campaign promise. Why? Because they only care that he’s their guy.

Meanwhile, the media obsesses over Elon Musk’s antics and DOGE’s actions. Media personalities and on air journalists are fighting for ratings by yelling, “look over here; no, not there…over here!”. But, here’s the problem. Trump’s base isn’t distracted. They’re too busy worshipping at the altar of grievance and hate. They don’t need policy wins. They need enemies. They need someone to blame. They need someone to hate. And Trump gives them that and more.

So, when the polls say Trump’s favorability is “mixed,” I once again say: Says who? Says the same people who swore Hillary would win? Says the same people who think “independent voters” exist? Trump’s base isn’t polled. They’re not on Twitter. They’re not picking up pollster’s phone calls.They’re not at cocktail parties. They’re in diners, in churches, in pickup trucks with MAGA flags. They’re the silent majority; or at least, they think they are. Bit they are not. They are loud, They are abrasive. They are proud, red MAGA hat wearing, flag carrying, YMCA dancing Americans who have found a place they fit in.

And here’s the dirty secret: Polls don’t measure loyalty. They measure fleeting opinions. And, Trump’s supporters aren’t fleeting. They’re fanatics. They’ll follow him to hell and back, even if he leads them straight into a tariff-induced recession or a war with China. They’ll follow him because he’s their guy.

So, keep your polls. Keep your “mixed” results. Keep your “economic concerns.” Trump’s favorability isn’t about numbers; it’s about the cult. And cults don’t care about polls. They care about the leader.

So, what can Democrats do? To break the cult’s grip, Democrats must weaponize economic pain. We need to relentlessly highlight how Trump’s policies; whether through chaotic market swings (DOGE’s volatility), broken promises on jobs, or inflationary pressures, directly harm their wallets, families, and communities. The key is to make the abstract “economy” visceral; show a factory worker in Ohio whose plant closed due to tariffs, a retiree in Florida drowning in medical bills, or a small business owner crushed by erratic regulations. These stories must dominate airwaves, not polls or Trump’s distractions. We must also exploit the GOP’s thin margins by forcing Republicans to own every economic misstep; tying their votes to rising costs, stagnant wages, and failed promises. If we can make Trump’s base feel the sting of loyalty in their bank accounts, the cult’s immunity to polls will finally crack. After all, even the most devout followers can’t ignore their empty pockets.

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