CNN’s Chris Cillizza was criticized for speculating about Americans viewing Trump’s presidency more favorably than Biden’s.
Cillizza struggled to understand a poll showing 42% saw Trump’s term as “mostly good” versus 25% for Biden.
“It speaks to the power of nostalgia — and how we as humans tend to remember the good stuff and block out the bad,” Cillizza wrote.
I think Donald Trump is the country's ex in that regard. People are nostalgic about how things were four year ago — even if the actual record of how things were is not so good!
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) April 15, 2024
He bizarrely compared it to nostalgia for an ex-girlfriend.
“How to understand it? I think of it in terms of dating. In college I dated a girl for 2 years. We broke up. For plenty of good reasons,” he added. “But a few months later, I found myself reminiscing about all the good times we had together. I couldn’t even remember why we broke up in the first place.”
“I think Donald Trump is the country’s ex in that regard. People are nostalgic about how things were four year ago — even if the actual record of how things were is not so good!” he added.
Commenters roasted Cillizza as out of touch, noting high inflation, gas prices, and immigration under Biden are tangible problems versus his claims of hardship under Trump from J6 and the election.
“You’re utterly out of touch,” wrote X user wrote.
Cillizza had previously said reporters should not take sides.
Biden has acknowledged political damage from inflation and immigration, exploring unilateral border shutdown despite court risks – similar to his rejected student loan action.
“Some are suggesting that I should just go ahead and try it,” Biden said. “And if I get shut down by the court, I get shut down by the court.”
Cillizza’s analysis drew mockery for failing to understand voter concerns.
