President Donald Trump is grappling with a record drop in popularity on the eve of his State of the Union address. The latest public opinion polls indicate that 60% of Americans negatively assess his administration, marking one of the lowest ratings in the history of this presidency. The situation is further complicated by a mysterious provocation on C-SPAN, where an anonymous caller, using Trump's old pseudonym, sharply criticized the Supreme Court for its decision on tariffs.

Record Low Support

As many as 60% of U.S. citizens negatively assess the presidency ahead of the annual State of the Union address.

John Barron Incident

An impersonator posing as the president called C-SPAN television, criticizing the Supreme Court's ruling.

Criticism of Tariff Policy

The Supreme Court challenged the president's authority to impose tariffs, which infuriated the White House.

The atmosphere in Washington is thickening ahead of President Donald Trump's scheduled Tuesday address before a joint session of Congress. According to the latest poll conducted for the "Washington Post" and ABC News, as many as 60% of respondents disapprove of the head of state's actions. Respondents cite the economic situation and controversial tariffs as the main reasons for dissatisfaction, which some experts warn could have a boomerang effect on the U.S. economy. Conservative media, including "The Wall Street Journal," are not sparing criticism, calling the current moment a "critical point" of the presidency. The State of the Union address is an annual tradition stemming from Article II of the U.S. Constitution, obliging the president to inform Congress about the nation's condition and present legislative proposals.Simultaneously, an incident on C-SPAN has electrified public opinion. During a live program, an impersonator calling himself "John Barron" called C-SPAN and, expressing views aligned with the White House line, criticized the Supreme Court for blocking the president's tariff regulations. The choice of name was not accidental – John Barron is a well-known pseudonym that Trump used in the 1980s for media contacts. The network issued a statement denying that the caller was the sitting president, pointing to a professional impersonator. Nevertheless, the case has fueled speculation about desperation within the administration, especially as the real Trump at the same time posted a controversial social media post questioning birthright citizenship. In the 1980s and 1990s, Donald Trump repeatedly called New York editorial offices as spokesman John Barron or John Miller to promote his own business successes and social life.„The Supreme Court got it wrong on tariffs. Our country is suffering because of these bureaucratic hurdles.” — Donald Trump The president is preparing for the address in the shadow of recent security incidents, including the shooting of an armed man at Mar-a-Lago, and debates over the effectiveness of his trade policy. Critics point out that the isolationist trade policy is starting to be poorly received even by the hardcore electoral base, which is feeling the rise in prices of imported products. Tomorrow's address is meant to be an attempt to regain political initiative and calm financial markets.60% — of Americans negatively assess Trump's presidencySupport for the President Ahead of the Address: Opponents: 60, Supporters: 36, Undecided: 4

Mentioned People

  • Donald Trump — President of the United States, whose popularity is plummeting ahead of the State of the Union address.
  • John Barron — Pseudonym used by a caller to C-SPAN television, historically associated with Trump.