Trump Ripped for Pursuing ‘Stupid, Irrelevant Indulgences’ in Scathing National Review Column: Voters Don’t Care About MAGA ‘Side Quests’
In a scathing column for *National Review*, senior editor Charles C. W. Cooke criticized President Donald Trump for risking his second term by focusing on “stupid, irrelevant indulgences” rather than the core issues that secured his re-election.
Titled “Does Trump Know Why He Was Elected?”, the piece argues that Trump has become distracted by side issues, jeopardizing his ability to deliver on the promises that resonated with voters.
Cooke opened the column by warning that Trump is “at risk of blowing his second term before it has hit the two-month mark.” He accused the president of indulging in “chaotic, capricious, contradictory” policies, such as his tariff agenda, which Cooke described as unpopular and economically damaging.
According to Cooke, these distractions have overshadowed the priorities that voters care about most: a strong economy, secure borders, and an end to what he called the “illiberal lunacy” of wokeism.
The columnist argued that Trump’s focus on niche issues—such as Canada’s potential statehood, the purchase of Greenland, or grievances aired on Truth Social—alienates the broader public. “The public wants the economy humming, the border secure, an end to the illiberal lunacy that was wokeism,” Cooke wrote. “They did not sign up for a trade war with Canada, the resurrection of William McKinley, or an endless game of red light/green light that tanks their 401(k) and makes it harder for their kids to buy a house.”
Cooke also criticized Trump for repeating the mistakes of his predecessor, Joe Biden, by prioritizing the concerns of social media activists over the needs of everyday Americans. He warned that Trump’s failure to deliver “quick wins” in the early days of his second term could erode public trust and stability.
“The people who voted Donald Trump back into office wanted him to bring back 2019,” Cooke asserted, referencing a time of economic growth and relative stability. Instead, he argued, Trump’s agenda has been dominated by “stupid, irrelevant indulgences” that fail to address the economic anxieties of ordinary voters.
Cooke’s column reflects growing frustration among some conservatives who feel Trump has strayed from the priorities that won him re-election. By focusing on divisive and unconventional policies, Cooke warned, Trump risks alienating the very voters who propelled him to victory.
