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The Misunderstood Mechanics of Presidential Popularity and Accountability
As President Donald Trump faces a decline in popularity, evidenced by the large-scale No Kings protests, it’s crucial to dissect the narrative that the public is surpassing the elites in advocating for democracy. This perspective, notably pushed forward by conservative commentator William Kristol in his recent remarks on The Bulwark, suggests a dramatic shift in the dynamics of political power and influence. However, a deeper analysis reveals a more complex interaction between public sentiment, elite accommodation, and presidential accountability.
Understanding the Real Power Dynamics
Kristol claims that the public is “leading the elites” in standing up to Trump, highlighted by the unprecedented turnout at the No Kings protests, described by polling analyst G. Elliott Morris as the “largest single-day political protest ever.” This statement positions the masses as the new drivers of political change, overshadowing traditional power structures. Yet, this interpretation may overly simplify the landscape of influence. While public protests are a vital expression of democratic engagement, they do not directly translate to immediate political change, especially in a system where institutional power remains firmly entrenched.
The Role of the Elites in Political Change
Kristol criticizes the elite institutions for still accommodating Trump, hinting at a significant lag between public sentiment and elite action. This is a critical point, as it underscores the potential disconnect between democratic expression through protests and the responsiveness of political institutions. The real question is why these institutions, which hold considerable power, continue to support or tolerate Trump despite a clear shift in public opinion. This could be due to a variety of factors including political self-interest, systemic inertia, or strategic calculations, none of which are directly influenced by public protests alone.
Assessing Trump’s Institutional Support
Despite Trump’s claims of a landslide victory in the 2024 presidential election, the reality is more nuanced with a win of only about 1.5 percent in the popular vote. This marginal victory underscores a deeply divided electorate, yet does not immediately affect the institutional support Trump enjoys, which is shaped by factors beyond direct electoral mandates such as party dynamics, legislative support, and judicial backing.
Kristol’s Critique of the Trump Administration
Kristol’s continued criticism of Trump, especially regarding the administration’s handling of sensitive issues like the Jeffrey Epstein files and the rationale behind the war against Iran, points to a broader critique of the administration’s disregard for fundamental democratic principles. His assertion that the American public’s spirit remains robust, as seen in Minnesota’s resistance to harsh immigration policies, suggests a mismatch between governmental actions and public values. However, while Kristol’s critiques align with democratic ideals, they do not fully address how institutional mechanisms can be leveraged to ensure governmental accountability beyond public protests.
Conclusion: The Complexity of Driving Change
The narrative that the public is overtaking the elites in democratic engagement presents an optimistic view of citizen power. However, it oversimplifies the complexities of how change is actually enacted within the U.S. political system. True accountability and change require not just public outcry but strategic, sustained pressures on institutional structures that hold the real levers of power. The ongoing accommodation of Trump by elite institutions despite widespread public dissent highlights the challenges of translating popular movements into actual policy and administrative changes. In this context, focusing solely on public protests or elite criticism like Kristol’s fails to address the deeper systemic reforms needed to align governmental actions with the public’s democratic aspirations.
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