‘American In A Way We Haven’t Seen In A Decade’: Victor Davis Hanson Explains How Trump Makes People Confident

Victor Davis Hanson said on Fox News Monday that President Donald Trump embodies a uniquely American spirit of confidence that has been largely absent from the national stage in recent years.

Former MSNBC host Chris Matthews said he doesn’t believe negative Trump polls and added that voters see him as a strong leader and the country is moving in his direction. During an appearance on “The Ingraham Angle,” Hanson said Trump has a sense of command that resonates deeply with Americans who yearn for strength and clarity in leadership.

“Chris Matthews had a point,” Hanson said. “Donald Trump is a dynamic, swashbuckling figure that represents this American confidence.”

Hanson pointed out the contrast between Trump and former President Joe Biden, pointing to moments when Biden appeared disoriented.

WATCH:

“You know, when Joe Biden was trapped in a mind freeze or he was wandering, people were always whispering in his ear, or they were always trying to grab him, his hand, and guide him,” Hanson said.

Hanson said Trump projects a kind of self-assured leadership rarely seen in modern politics.

“No one in their right mind around Trump would ever get near him and whisper in his ear what to say. They know that. They know that he’s completely on his own. He’s not afraid to take any questions. He wades into journalists that hate him, and he says, ‘Come on, give me the best you got, and I’ll reply,’” Hanson said. “And that gives people optimism that he’s typically American in a way that we haven’t seen in about a decade or so.”

Gallup reported Thursday that Trump’s approval rating fell to 37%, with just 29% support from independents. Pollster Matt Towery said Friday on Fox News that Trump’s real approval numbers are much higher than media reports suggest. (RELATED: ‘Completely New Territory’: Victor Davis Hanson Says Economists Who Blasted Tariffs Don’t Know As Much As They Claim)

Trump’s approval rating rose to 47.5% in June, surpassing where George W. Bush and Barack Obama stood at the same point in their second terms, with Bush at 45.9% and Obama at 47.1%, according to RealClear Politics. The RCP data aligns with a recent Harvard/Harris poll showing that a slight majority of voters view the economy as “strong.”

The approval boost followed a 12.3-point jump in consumer confidence to 98.0 in May, marking the first increase in five months. Analysts attributed the surge to stronger expectations around business conditions, job prospects, and income, momentum that built after Trump secured a trade deal with China on May 12.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.