08/21/2026
George W. Bush left office with a 32% approval rating, a number that Sarah Longwell later associated with the idea of the “Bush Line.” His unpopularity was followed by Republican losses in the next two presidential elections, before Donald Trump reshaped the party’s direction.
Now, Trump himself has fallen below that benchmark, according to this argument. Adam Kinzinger says Trump’s handling of the country could leave lasting, even generational, damage to the Republican brand.
The question is whether today’s political backlash will have the same long-term consequences or whether Republicans can change course before it does.