MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell suggested that Donald Trump's endorsements may be losing their impact on Republican voters and candidates, citing recent events and polling data.
O'Donnell highlighted the case of Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), who Trump endorsed in February for Florida's 7th Congressional District. Mills, who has faced scrutiny from the House Ethics Committee and the Justice Department over accusations including domestic violence and campaign finance violations, lost the Republican primary last week. Trump did not include Mills on a recent social media endorsement list.
"Donald Trump has lost his magical powers with Republican voters," O'Donnell stated, referencing concerns voiced by Florida residents about the economy. He pointed to comments from a Trump voter in Orlando who cited rising costs as a source of suffering. O'Donnell also connected Trump's past policies to increased gas prices, noting that a recent Reuters poll indicated 33% job approval for Trump, the lowest of his second term.
The same Reuters poll found that 80% of participants, including 71% of Republicans, anticipate the ongoing conflict in Iran will be prolonged. O'Donnell cited Trump's recent interview with Fox News, where he stated he has "no time schedule" for the war and that "the midterms have nothing to do with my thinking." O'Donnell characterized this statement as an "obvious and stupid lie," suggesting Trump feels "helpless, lost, weak" and unable to influence the November elections or the conflict.
O'Donnell questioned the value of Trump's endorsements, posing whether figures like JD Vance and Marco Rubio, who have aligned their political futures with Trump's potential role as a "kingmaker" in the next presidential election, might be mistaken. "What if he isn't?" O'Donnell asked, implying that Trump's influence may be waning.