By John Q. Hosedrinker 
President Trump has stated that the controversy surrounding the Epstein files has boosted his popularity among Republicans and the MAGA base, citing polls showing record-high approval ratings. However, despite high approval within his party, a new CBS/YouGov poll revealed significant public disapproval of the Trump administration’s handling of the situation. While Trump’s approval ratings remain strong among Republicans, his overall approval has dropped significantly since the Epstein drama began, accompanied by a rise in disapproval. The former president has dismissed the story as a “hoax” and threatened legal action against media outlets reporting on his ties to Epstein, while simultaneously claiming his general election numbers are the highest ever.
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Desperate Trump Tries to Get MAGA Not to Care About Epstein, a truly Herculean task, given the landscape. For years, Trump skillfully mined the depths of the right wing, specifically their appetite for conspiracy theories surrounding child abuse. He knew how to work the crowd. QAnon, Pizzagate, the whole shebang—these were the very ingredients he used to whip up the frenzy. His followers spent years decrying their political opponents as “pedophiles,” a tactic that had been used with devastating effect, creating the bedrock of his base. It was a consistent, almost sacred tenet for many MAGA supporters. Their stance against child abuse was a rare, unwavering principle.
It’s truly baffling, but the situation is that Trump is now asking them to essentially look the other way. He even tried, awkwardly, to deflect attention elsewhere, but the connection remains as solid as ever. It’s a stark contrast to his usual playbook, and it’s failing. The sheer audacity of it is almost comical.
The issue at hand is that there’s a gaping chasm between what MAGA claims to value and Trump’s association with Epstein. The very movement that built itself on the promise of fighting the “deep state” pedophiles now finds itself in a precarious position. This is a situation where Trump is attempting to subvert his own followers’ beliefs. Some on the right seem to be grasping that this is not mere gossip; the evidence of Trump’s association with Epstein is vast, and is supported by decades of documented occurrences.
This is not just a political misstep; it’s a moral one. The evidence is piling up. The question becomes whether Trump can successfully persuade his followers to abandon their own deeply held convictions. This is why you see the desperate attempt to change the conversation. Throwing out distractions, attempting to shift the blame, and hoping the base just simply doesn’t care. But if it’s working, as some suggest, it’s happening behind the scenes, not in the full light of day.
It’s a classic move: “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!” Trump’s strategy has been a catastrophe, a train wreck in slow motion. His attempts to dismiss it, distract from it, or just plain ignore it all have backfired spectacularly. The base is not easily swayed on this issue, as it is a core moral position for many. It has become nearly impossible for Trump to change the narrative without incurring significant losses.
The effort to sweep this under the rug is further exacerbated by the fact that there’s something inherently wrong with his whole approach. The fact that Trump even brought up the topic, only to then try to change the subject, shows his desperation.
Ultimately, Trump’s ability to control the narrative is waning, and the Epstein connection remains a stubborn stain. His attempts to distract his followers are going about as well as expected. If he succeeds, it would require a full-blown reprogramming of their values, which, at this point, is highly unlikely.