Mary Trump, the niece of President Donald Trump, says she believes her uncle is slowly losing control and heading in a downward direction. Writing on her Substack blog, she said Trump is on a “slippery slope” and will likely keep declining because he is no longer able to manage events or control how the public sees him.
She explained that Trump’s usual approach of denying problems, twisting facts, and attacking critics is no longer working. According to her, there was a time when some supporters saw him as strong and aggressive, but now he looks weakened and unable to lead effectively. She said there is growing fear and uncertainty about the future of the country, and Trump no longer seems capable of shaping the story in his favor.
Mary Trump is the daughter of Fred Trump Jr. and has been one of the few members of the Trump family to openly criticize the president. She has often spoken about his leadership style, his behavior, and the impact of his decisions on the country.
In response, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung dismissed her comments, calling her a bitter critic who does not understand what she is talking about.
Her remarks come at a time when Trump’s approval ratings have dropped since he returned to the White House in January. A recent poll by YouGov and The Economist found that only 39 percent of voters approve of how he is handling the job, while a majority disapprove. The survey was conducted between December 20 and December 22, 2025.
Voters have raised concerns about the economy, rising living costs, and the administration’s handling of the Epstein files. Trump had promised during his campaign to release the files quickly, but his administration delayed action until Congress forced their release last month.
Mary Trump wrote that Trump’s problems have piled up over time and are becoming harder to ignore. She said he can pretend the problems do not exist, but he can no longer convince people to ignore what they are experiencing in their own lives just by shouting at reporters or attacking the media.
While she warned that the country itself is close to a dangerous moment, she said there is still a chance for Americans to turn things around. She was far less hopeful about Trump. According to her, stopping his decline would require him to admit his limits, listen to experts, accept responsibility for mistakes, and change direction. She argued that he is incapable of doing any of those things and has never shown a willingness to change.
Trump, for his part, has repeatedly rejected negative polling. In a Truth Social post last November, he claimed that polls showing him struggling were fake and created by left-wing media, adding that he was not concerned because he was still sitting in the Oval Office.
CNN analyst Harry Enten also pointed out that Trump has had a negative approval rating every single day since March, saying his numbers have remained underwater for months. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene added that recent votes where Republicans sided with Democrats suggest that cracks are forming within the party as lawmakers start positioning themselves for the 2026 midterm elections.
Trump’s approval ratings and public support are expected to play a major role in shaping the next election cycle, as Republicans prepare to defend their seats in both the House and the Senate against Democratic challengers.
