Your support helps us to tell the story Read more Support Now From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more
Megyn Kelly has lambasted President Donald Trump and Republicans over troubling new polling data, summing up her message in the bluntest of terms: “You’re effed.”
The conservative podcaster — who boasts more than four million subscribers on YouTube — walked through the results of several recent surveys, which underscore mounting concerns for the GOP ahead of the midterm elections, including on both foreign and domestic issues.
“[Americans] feel like they gave Trump a year-and-a-half,” she said during an episode of her show released on Thursday. “He’s done nothing other than make things worse…They don’t tend to like the tariffs…They don’t like the war. They don’t like what’s happening in their bank accounts.”
Kelly, a former Fox News host, pointed to a stunning poll released on Wednesday by her ex-employer, which showed that 52 percent of registered voters favor Democrats on the economy, while 48 percent said the same of Republicans.
“Americans prefer Democrats to Republicans on the economy for the first time since 2010, first time in 16 years,” Kelly exclaimed, noting that the GOP historically performed well on kitchen table issues.
open image in gallery Megyn Kelly tore into President Donald Trump over new polling data, which indicates his approval rating has dropped to precariously low levels ( The Megyn Kelly Show, YouTube )
At the same time, Trump’s own approval rating on the economy was far worse: 66 percent of respondents said they disapproved. An additional 63 percent said they disapproved of his handling of Iran, and 72 percent said they opposed his handling of inflation.
Kelly then turned to a new analysis by the Cook Political Report, which revealed that Democrats hold a 6-point advantage over Republicans in toss-up congressional districts — which the president won by an average of two points in 2024.
“Trump has cratered…like not even present tense anymore. It’s done! You’re effed!” she said. “You need to adjust something ASAP.”
“It’s important to talk about it now, when we’re several months in advance in the midterm, maybe something could be done,” she added.
open image in gallery On Friday, the national average price for a gallon of gasoline stood at $4.05, up from $2.98 two days before the war began ( Getty Images )
Kelly endorsed Trump in 2024, but has since repeatedly criticized him — including over the Iran war, which she accused him of being “bamboozled” into launching. Earlier this week, she called the 79-year-old president amoral and “extremely petty and thin-skinned.”
Last week, Trump fired back at the podcast host, branding her a "low IQ person" while lashing out at a cadre of right-wing influencers who've turned critical of his administration.
But, Kelly is far from alone in warning Republicans about a possible midterm wipeout.
On Friday, Axios co-founder and CEO Jim VandeHei claimed that Trump’s polling numbers likely signal trouble ahead.
“It’s almost impossible in modern polling, given the ideological impulses of base voters, to get much lower than he is in terms of his unfavorable ratings, but also how unpopular he is when it comes to the economy,” he told MS NOW.
The latest polls come as the conflict in the Middle East remains paused under a fragile ceasefire. The Strait of Hormuz — a vital artery of global trade — remains largely sealed due to dueling U.S. and Iranian blockades. As a result, fuel prices have soared. On Friday, the national average price for a gallon of gasoline stood at $4.05, up from $2.98 two days before the war began, according to AAA.
On Thursday, Trump told reporters that he’s “not under any pressure whatsoever” to end the Iran war, and that Americans should expect gas prices to remain high “for a little while.”