Jake Tapper Tells DNC Chair Dems’ Midterm Success Hinges More On Backlash To Trump And Less Over Trusting DemocratsMariane Angela
News Reporter
January 20, 2026 10:33 PM ET
CNN host Jake Tapper told Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Ken Martin on Tuesday that Democrats’ midterm success hinged more on voter backlash against President Donald Trump than on public trust in Democrats themselves.
Trump is now underwater on the economy, with recent polls showing about half of Americans believe economic conditions have worsened over the past year, a shift economists link to policy uncertainty and inflation concerns. Tapper poured cold water on Democratic optimism on “The Lead,” saying that polling shows voter dissatisfaction with Trump is doing more of the political heavy lifting than genuine confidence in Democrats.
“If you guys have a good November, it’s more because of what people don’t like about Trump, not necessarily that they trust the Democrats, at least not right now, according to polls I’ve seen,” Tapper told Martin.
Martin pushed back by saying Trump is underwater on every major issue and accused Trump and congressional Republicans of failing to deliver on their promises. He did not address the point that Democrats may benefit more from backlash against Trump than from voters trusting their party.
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https://dailycaller.com/2026/01/20/jake-tapper-ken-martin-dems-midterm-success-trump-backlash/
