*Of course what makes all this optimism suspect is that a waitress struggling to make ends meet is at at trump rally. I think that is the most relevant and interesting unintended takeaway from the article. Baffling, crazy, makes no sense etc. and yet there she is, and it just makes one wonder what in the world is going on. But I still think the tide is shifting, where it lands is anyone’s guess.*
“Trump’s team clearly hoped the blue-collar community in one of the country’s most important swing states would give him a friendly launchpad. While I expected a crowd of a few thousand with the nostalgic sound of [MAGA](https://www.salon.com/topic/maga) chants echoing off metal bleachers, I tuned into [Fox News](https://www.salon.com/topic/fox_news) Tuesday evening to find the president in a conference center ballroom inside a local casino that appeared to hold, generously, 200 people.”
” And even that small crowd seemed hesitant, almost resigned, as Trump ranted for nearly an hour. Fox News, of course, dutifully avoided any wide shots. But the truth was clear on screen: The MAGA magic had vanished.”
“Even a local waitress brought on stage to support Trump lamented that her paychecks no longer stretch far enough. “Pretty much everything I make goes towards paying the bills,” [she said](https://x.com/patriottakes/status/1998561661645631684). In response, Trump offered advice in the style of Marie Antoinette.”
“Americans must learn to adjust to a lower standard of living,” [he told the crowd](https://x.com/atrupar/status/1998562754026742221) before suggesting a specific solution to prices hiked by his tariffs, which he continues to insist are a success. “You can give up certain products. You can give up pencils…You don’t need 37 dolls for your daughter. Two or three is nice.”
“Things turned more confusing when Trump seemed to forget he had first nominated Federal Reserve Board Chair [Jerome Powell](https://www.salon.com/topic/jerome-powell). “I just heard it could be all four commissioners in the Fed signed by Biden including Too Late, I hear that the autopen may have signed those commissions. If they signed those commissions,” he [said](https://x.com/atrupar/status/1998558752018927928), “you can’t use the autopen.”
“Trump’s Speech On Combating Inflation Turns To Grievances About Immigrants From ‘Filthy’ Countries,” the Associated Press reported.
“Why is it we only take people from s**thole countries? Why can’t we have some people from Norway, Sweden, just a few?”
“Republicans should be worried, and [they are now admitting as much](https://x.com/JohnKingGA/status/1998577364813430864). Trump lost the popular vote in 2016. He lost the White House in 2020. His endorsed candidates face-planted in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024. The GOP has not overperformed in a single national cycle since he took control of the party.”
“The Mount Pocono rally reaffirmed that truth. While Trump attempted to demonstrate strength, he looked small and irrelevant. The billionaire president who tells supporters to buy fewer dolls ahead of Christmas obviously does not know how to connect with voters anymore.”
“Republicans insist that bringing Trump back into the midterm spotlight will energize the base. It may — but it will also energize everyone else.”
Julian_Thorne on
Pointing at people, raising a clenched fist, and lying into a microphone has gotten boring?
Qu4r4nt1n3r on
They should schedule these the day after his Leqembi treatment. Highest level of cognitive/proprioceptive awareness.
ProjectMason on
(Donald Trump takes a shit at Pennsylvania)
PA: Pennsylvania welcomes Donald J. Trump!
AINonsense on
That will be very much the fault of someone else.
Gabarne on
It turns out people don’t like being lied to.
Posting a bunch of signs all over the room that say “bigger paychecks” and “lower prices” does not make it true.
gfh110 on
>**“Americans must learn to adjust to a lower standard of living,”** he told the crowd before suggesting a specific solution to prices hiked by his tariffs, which he continues to insist are a success. “You can give up certain products. You can give up pencils…You don’t need 37 dolls for your daughter. Two or three is nice.”
I was told we were in a new “golden age” of American prosperity and that everything is cheap and everyone is rich.
Any other politician in the last 50 years who suggested that Americans should settle for less would have been crucified on the spot.
I don’t think people from Norway or Sweden have any interest in moving to the US.
Virbillion on
“Americans must learn to adjust to a lower standard of living” — that was the pitch. he said those exact words.
that is how confident he is that his cult followers will just accept whatever crumbs he allows them.
Cheffskixx on
Trump’s MAGA rallies are dead. Crowds are crickets and the energy is non-existent. No surprise there he did lie so who’s going to listen now
LingonberryHot8521 on
They were pretty much a flop in 2024 also. Under-attended, fucking weird, and frequently showed attendees leaving early.
lumberjackname on
He really is fixated on the notion that American children all have 37 dolls. It’s not the first or second or third time he’s said it. Maybe Ivanka had 37 dolls, but she grew up rich.
AcanthisittaNo6653 on
>“Americans must learn to adjust to a lower standard of living,”
That’s perfect messaging for a losing GOP. Don’t change a word!
HelpUs0ut on
Let them eat FAKE
rockum on
Too bad hashtags have gone out of fashion ’cause #justonepencil would kill.
[deleted] on
[deleted]
Tokie-Dokie on
His crowds were waning before the last election as well. Which is to say, I think there are still millions of MAGAts out there that will continue to vote against their own best interests as long as Trump and the GOP are hurting Black/brown/LGBTQ people (who are obviously responsible for everything from inflation to hurricanes).
factbased on
MAGA rallies: Epstein may be dead, but you can still hang out with his best friend.
HookednSoCal on
And according to Susie Wiles during an interview on The Mom View (whatever tf that is), he’s going to be “campaigning next year like it’s 2024!” because they’re putting him on the ballot in hopes that’ll help his party win the midterms. So we’re gonna see a lot more “rallies”. Oh goody.
Sigh….I’m so damn tired of this timeline 😒
DoomOne on
I, for one, am excited to see Trump return to his rallies.
Lots of walking up and down stairs. Lots of people around him who thought “I bought my ticket, I’m not skipping even if I *AM* sick”. Lots of big, public open spaces. His medical staff desperately pumping him full of whatever he is getting to keep him animated at unknown costs to his liver and heart. I love that for him. Can’t wait to see how it all ends.
Choice-of-SteinsGate on
The truth is, Trump cannot go without hosting these self-masturbatory rallies for long, especially in the face of criticisms from the public, the press, and even members of his own party.
He desperately needs his soapbox so that he can be reminded of his support from his base of MAGA loyalists and fanatics who won’t abandon him under any circumstances.
It all comes down to his pathology and his deep seated fear of “low ratings” and unpopularity. That is to say, his fear of humiliation.
His approval ratings are currently at record and historic lows. Whether he’s consciously aware of his waning popularity or not, it’s still obvious that he recognizes something is amiss. This is why he’s been lashing out repeatedly on social media, at reporters, at political opponents, at anyone who’s ever tried to hold him accountable in the past, at Republicans, and at anyone who hurts his precious feelings or doesn’t cater to his delicate sensibilities.
He’s a temperamental narcissist with the mental and emotional faculties of a child. So whenever he encounters fair scrutiny, backlash, liability, or even a rational question from the press that tries to hold him accountable or address one of his many inconsistencies/conflicts of interest, he doesn’t just lash out, but he equates these things with his own “persecution.”
This deeply ingrained fear of humiliation, embarrassment, shame, failure, defeat, etc, is also of course reflected in his election denialism.
To Donald Trump, “losing” is the ultimate humiliation. Which is why nearly every election or competition is “rigged” if it didn’t result in a favorable outcome for him.
dmanjrxx on
Most Americans can’t relate to Trump’s 37 dolls quote and that’s because only the rich can afford to give their daughters 37 dolls which he has probably done in the past
rom_rom57 on
He forgot:
“You should give up 2 of your G5s jets; you can get by with one!”
See where I’m going with this?
CalcareousSoil on
Holding a rally while president WAS on my bingo card, actually
Enough-Collection-98 on
Question – what are we *getting* for giving up our luxuries? Health care for all? Universal basic income? Affordable housing?
I was happy to trade some of my creature comforts to support those less fortunate than I. But so far as I can tell, all any of use has received is subjugation and terror in our cities by masked goons, a collapsing market propped up by AI slop and tech bros and openly hostile relations toward our allies.
Oh, and apparently a war with Venezuela over… ~~WMDs~~ drugs.
blazze_eternal on
– Tariffs are working!
– Tariffs won’t raise prices.
– China pays the tariff!
– But consumers need to get used to higher prices.
– Just eat one meal a day instead of three!
– This is Biden’s fault. This is his economy. Except Wall Street’s record profits, I did that.
– Look, just stop using Tylenol and everything will be ok.
YoungestDonkey on
The affordability crisis is a hoax: all you have to do is spend less!
ScholarFit4426 on
“Don’t buy steak!” – Bill O’Reilly in higher food prices.
RaisinToastie on
Kids can barely hold pencils, and they want iPhones and skincare, not dolls.
lifeat24fps on
“Americans must learn to adjust to a lower standard of living”. There’s your campaign ad for the next 10 months. Use it or lose it.
suzanneov on
Thank god.
Freddy-Borden on
So prices are lower than ever but we need to survive with less? MAGA sycophants, are you still buying this shit? This is your King, he seems to think your life isn’t worth shit while he tries to accumulate more billions.
pquince1 on
yeah, things are great if you’re the Monopoly guy.
tcoh1s on
He’s only in it for non stop attention. This job only feeds his ego. Who goes on “tour” just for no reason? He has a cheering quota.
BioDriver on
Whose tired of all this winning?
Sabre712 on
And the way you know it was a flop? That Sub™ won’t say a single word about it.
djwurm on
I bet ypu most of the people there were paid and bussed in.. especially the people behind him that all had the same signs.
he was notorious for doing this during his rallies leading up to the election. people found post on local city boards and responded to them and were given shirts and bussed in for 100 bucks or less..
America_Is_Fucked_ on
“Why can’t we have some people from Norway, Sweden, just a few?”
Because you turned America into a shithole country.
Andea31 on
What the heck did pencils ever do to him?
KopOut on
I love that Susie Wiles was out there talking about how Trump is going to campaign to help in the midterms.
As a Democrat, I hope this is the message he goes with. Get up there and tell people they should get used to less and then babble about turning all our families trans.
Please head to every purple and light red state with a Senate race in 2026 to deliver those important messages to voters.
grimspectre on
Refillable mechanic pencils are arguably more economical than pens..
pixelwhip on
Crowd is now looking whiter than ever…
key1234567 on
Stop with this flop nonsense, this man is dangerous. Get out and vote!!!
TheHistorian2 on
The economy is great but you need to make do with less.
Even the really dumb people will see through that.
44 Comments
*Of course what makes all this optimism suspect is that a waitress struggling to make ends meet is at at trump rally. I think that is the most relevant and interesting unintended takeaway from the article. Baffling, crazy, makes no sense etc. and yet there she is, and it just makes one wonder what in the world is going on. But I still think the tide is shifting, where it lands is anyone’s guess.*
“Trump’s team clearly hoped the blue-collar community in one of the country’s most important swing states would give him a friendly launchpad. While I expected a crowd of a few thousand with the nostalgic sound of [MAGA](https://www.salon.com/topic/maga) chants echoing off metal bleachers, I tuned into [Fox News](https://www.salon.com/topic/fox_news) Tuesday evening to find the president in a conference center ballroom inside a local casino that appeared to hold, generously, 200 people.”
” And even that small crowd seemed hesitant, almost resigned, as Trump ranted for nearly an hour. Fox News, of course, dutifully avoided any wide shots. But the truth was clear on screen: The MAGA magic had vanished.”
“Even a local waitress brought on stage to support Trump lamented that her paychecks no longer stretch far enough. “Pretty much everything I make goes towards paying the bills,” [she said](https://x.com/patriottakes/status/1998561661645631684). In response, Trump offered advice in the style of Marie Antoinette.”
“Americans must learn to adjust to a lower standard of living,” [he told the crowd](https://x.com/atrupar/status/1998562754026742221) before suggesting a specific solution to prices hiked by his tariffs, which he continues to insist are a success. “You can give up certain products. You can give up pencils…You don’t need 37 dolls for your daughter. Two or three is nice.”
“Things turned more confusing when Trump seemed to forget he had first nominated Federal Reserve Board Chair [Jerome Powell](https://www.salon.com/topic/jerome-powell). “I just heard it could be all four commissioners in the Fed signed by Biden including Too Late, I hear that the autopen may have signed those commissions. If they signed those commissions,” he [said](https://x.com/atrupar/status/1998558752018927928), “you can’t use the autopen.”
“Moments like these underscored the [growing concern about Trump’s cognitive abilities](https://www.salon.com/2025/11/14/quit-sane-washing-donald-trump/), which are becoming a political issue”
“Trump’s Speech On Combating Inflation Turns To Grievances About Immigrants From ‘Filthy’ Countries,” the Associated Press reported.
“Why is it we only take people from s**thole countries? Why can’t we have some people from Norway, Sweden, just a few?”
“Republicans should be worried, and [they are now admitting as much](https://x.com/JohnKingGA/status/1998577364813430864). Trump lost the popular vote in 2016. He lost the White House in 2020. His endorsed candidates face-planted in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024. The GOP has not overperformed in a single national cycle since he took control of the party.”
“The Mount Pocono rally reaffirmed that truth. While Trump attempted to demonstrate strength, he looked small and irrelevant. The billionaire president who tells supporters to buy fewer dolls ahead of Christmas obviously does not know how to connect with voters anymore.”
“The Trump of 2026 is not the Trump of 2024. The president [is clearly tired](https://www.salon.com/2025/12/09/donald-trump-is-the-sleepy-president-of-an-exhausted-country/), angry, confused and incapable of adjusting to a country in economic crisis. [Even Fox News can’t spin this](https://www.salon.com/2025/12/07/fox-news-turns-sour-on-trump-economy-and-so-do-his-voters/). ”
“Republicans insist that bringing Trump back into the midterm spotlight will energize the base. It may — but it will also energize everyone else.”
Pointing at people, raising a clenched fist, and lying into a microphone has gotten boring?
They should schedule these the day after his Leqembi treatment. Highest level of cognitive/proprioceptive awareness.
(Donald Trump takes a shit at Pennsylvania)
PA: Pennsylvania welcomes Donald J. Trump!
That will be very much the fault of someone else.
It turns out people don’t like being lied to.
Posting a bunch of signs all over the room that say “bigger paychecks” and “lower prices” does not make it true.
>**“Americans must learn to adjust to a lower standard of living,”** he told the crowd before suggesting a specific solution to prices hiked by his tariffs, which he continues to insist are a success. “You can give up certain products. You can give up pencils…You don’t need 37 dolls for your daughter. Two or three is nice.”
I was told we were in a new “golden age” of American prosperity and that everything is cheap and everyone is rich.
Any other politician in the last 50 years who suggested that Americans should settle for less would have been crucified on the spot.
Edit: I’m having trouble confirming that he actually said the “lower standard of living” thing. It’s not in [the video](https://x.com/atrupar/status/1998562754026742221) or the transcript on [Roll Call](https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-speech-political-rally-mount-pocono-pennsylvania=december-9-2025/_). That’s some bullshit if Salon is trying to frame it as a direct quote.
I don’t think people from Norway or Sweden have any interest in moving to the US.
“Americans must learn to adjust to a lower standard of living” — that was the pitch. he said those exact words.
that is how confident he is that his cult followers will just accept whatever crumbs he allows them.
Trump’s MAGA rallies are dead. Crowds are crickets and the energy is non-existent. No surprise there he did lie so who’s going to listen now
They were pretty much a flop in 2024 also. Under-attended, fucking weird, and frequently showed attendees leaving early.
He really is fixated on the notion that American children all have 37 dolls. It’s not the first or second or third time he’s said it. Maybe Ivanka had 37 dolls, but she grew up rich.
>“Americans must learn to adjust to a lower standard of living,”
That’s perfect messaging for a losing GOP. Don’t change a word!
Let them eat FAKE
Too bad hashtags have gone out of fashion ’cause #justonepencil would kill.
[deleted]
His crowds were waning before the last election as well. Which is to say, I think there are still millions of MAGAts out there that will continue to vote against their own best interests as long as Trump and the GOP are hurting Black/brown/LGBTQ people (who are obviously responsible for everything from inflation to hurricanes).
MAGA rallies: Epstein may be dead, but you can still hang out with his best friend.
And according to Susie Wiles during an interview on The Mom View (whatever tf that is), he’s going to be “campaigning next year like it’s 2024!” because they’re putting him on the ballot in hopes that’ll help his party win the midterms. So we’re gonna see a lot more “rallies”. Oh goody.
Sigh….I’m so damn tired of this timeline 😒
I, for one, am excited to see Trump return to his rallies.
Lots of walking up and down stairs. Lots of people around him who thought “I bought my ticket, I’m not skipping even if I *AM* sick”. Lots of big, public open spaces. His medical staff desperately pumping him full of whatever he is getting to keep him animated at unknown costs to his liver and heart. I love that for him. Can’t wait to see how it all ends.
The truth is, Trump cannot go without hosting these self-masturbatory rallies for long, especially in the face of criticisms from the public, the press, and even members of his own party.
He desperately needs his soapbox so that he can be reminded of his support from his base of MAGA loyalists and fanatics who won’t abandon him under any circumstances.
It all comes down to his pathology and his deep seated fear of “low ratings” and unpopularity. That is to say, his fear of humiliation.
His approval ratings are currently at record and historic lows. Whether he’s consciously aware of his waning popularity or not, it’s still obvious that he recognizes something is amiss. This is why he’s been lashing out repeatedly on social media, at reporters, at political opponents, at anyone who’s ever tried to hold him accountable in the past, at Republicans, and at anyone who hurts his precious feelings or doesn’t cater to his delicate sensibilities.
He’s a temperamental narcissist with the mental and emotional faculties of a child. So whenever he encounters fair scrutiny, backlash, liability, or even a rational question from the press that tries to hold him accountable or address one of his many inconsistencies/conflicts of interest, he doesn’t just lash out, but he equates these things with his own “persecution.”
This deeply ingrained fear of humiliation, embarrassment, shame, failure, defeat, etc, is also of course reflected in his election denialism.
To Donald Trump, “losing” is the ultimate humiliation. Which is why nearly every election or competition is “rigged” if it didn’t result in a favorable outcome for him.
Most Americans can’t relate to Trump’s 37 dolls quote and that’s because only the rich can afford to give their daughters 37 dolls which he has probably done in the past
He forgot:
“You should give up 2 of your G5s jets; you can get by with one!”
See where I’m going with this?
Holding a rally while president WAS on my bingo card, actually
Question – what are we *getting* for giving up our luxuries? Health care for all? Universal basic income? Affordable housing?
I was happy to trade some of my creature comforts to support those less fortunate than I. But so far as I can tell, all any of use has received is subjugation and terror in our cities by masked goons, a collapsing market propped up by AI slop and tech bros and openly hostile relations toward our allies.
Oh, and apparently a war with Venezuela over… ~~WMDs~~ drugs.
– Tariffs are working!
– Tariffs won’t raise prices.
– China pays the tariff!
– But consumers need to get used to higher prices.
– Just eat one meal a day instead of three!
– This is Biden’s fault. This is his economy. Except Wall Street’s record profits, I did that.
– Look, just stop using Tylenol and everything will be ok.
The affordability crisis is a hoax: all you have to do is spend less!
“Don’t buy steak!” – Bill O’Reilly in higher food prices.
Kids can barely hold pencils, and they want iPhones and skincare, not dolls.
“Americans must learn to adjust to a lower standard of living”. There’s your campaign ad for the next 10 months. Use it or lose it.
Thank god.
So prices are lower than ever but we need to survive with less? MAGA sycophants, are you still buying this shit? This is your King, he seems to think your life isn’t worth shit while he tries to accumulate more billions.
yeah, things are great if you’re the Monopoly guy.
He’s only in it for non stop attention. This job only feeds his ego. Who goes on “tour” just for no reason? He has a cheering quota.
Whose tired of all this winning?
And the way you know it was a flop? That Sub™ won’t say a single word about it.
I bet ypu most of the people there were paid and bussed in.. especially the people behind him that all had the same signs.
he was notorious for doing this during his rallies leading up to the election. people found post on local city boards and responded to them and were given shirts and bussed in for 100 bucks or less..
“Why can’t we have some people from Norway, Sweden, just a few?”
Because you turned America into a shithole country.
What the heck did pencils ever do to him?
I love that Susie Wiles was out there talking about how Trump is going to campaign to help in the midterms.
As a Democrat, I hope this is the message he goes with. Get up there and tell people they should get used to less and then babble about turning all our families trans.
Please head to every purple and light red state with a Senate race in 2026 to deliver those important messages to voters.
Refillable mechanic pencils are arguably more economical than pens..
Crowd is now looking whiter than ever…
Stop with this flop nonsense, this man is dangerous. Get out and vote!!!
The economy is great but you need to make do with less.
Even the really dumb people will see through that.