It’s not every day you see a former liberal cable news host suddenly change lanes and throw support behind Donald Trump — but that’s exactly what Chris Matthews just did.
The ex-MSNBC star, once a staple of Democratic commentary, is now saying out loud what many in politics are thinking quietly: Americans might be moving back toward Trump, even if the polls don’t quite show it yet.
A Surprise Praise for Trump’s Popularity
Matthews, known for hosting Hardball and once toeing the party line for Democrats, gave his hot take during a weekend interview with former PBS anchor Charlie Rose — himself a controversial figure.
Matthews confidently stated that, in his view, “the country is moving towards Trump,” despite the barrage of negative polling that’s been coming out lately.
He waved off the unfavorable numbers, saying he just doesn’t trust them.
“His strength is still greater than the Democratic strength,” Matthews said. “He is a stronger public figure than the Democratic people.”
Comparing Trump to Obama — and Saying Trump Wins on Strength
To back up his point, Matthews pointed to former President Barack Obama as the last Democrat who came close to Trump’s popularity.
But even then, he made a distinction.
“Obama still has tremendous charisma — but Trump has strength,” he said.
“That’s what voters want. They want someone strong in that seat. And Trump’s got it. Half the country buys it.”
Defending Trump’s Immigration and Foreign Policies
Matthews even went a step further, praising Trump’s record on immigration and his hardline approach to Iran, particularly when it comes to drone strikes targeting nuclear sites.
That’s a far cry from the kind of commentary you’d expect from a former liberal host.
No to a Third Term — But a No to Musk, Too
As for the idea of Trump seeking a third term? Matthews isn’t on board.
But he did say Trump is still far more influential and popular than tech billionaire Elon Musk.
He compared Musk to Ross Perot, the 1990s third-party candidate who disrupted Republican votes, and suggested Musk’s political venture — the America Party — wouldn’t go anywhere serious.
Trump’s Numbers Still Holding Steady, Despite Epstein Scandal
A new Daily Mail/JL Partners poll shows that Trump’s approval rating ticked up slightly, from 48% to 49%, even as the media cycle has been dominated by the resurfacing of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
That’s the highest rating he’s had since May.
But don’t let that one-point bump fool you — Trump is still underwater.
The poll shows 51% of voters disapprove of his overall job performance. The margin of error? A pretty standard 3.1% from a survey of 1,007 registered voters.
Voters Shrug Off the Epstein Files — But Don’t Approve Either
Where Trump isn’t doing so well is with how voters think he’s handling the Epstein scandal.
Just 27% approve of how he’s managed it, while 42% actively disapprove.
A surprisingly large chunk — 20% — say they just don’t care either way.
Trump himself seems over it. When pressed during a recent Oval Office briefing, he dismissed the whole thing as a “witch hunt” and expressed frustration with repeated questions about the case.
Few Believe the Justice Department’s Memo
The Justice Department, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, released a memo claiming Epstein died by suicide and that there is no “client list” to reveal. But voters aren’t buying it.
Only 15% believe the official account. Nearly half — 47% — think the government is hiding something, and 23% believe the memo might be true, but that there’s still more to uncover.
In short, the public still suspects there are secrets left in the shadows.
Voters Just Don’t Prioritize the Scandal
Pollster James Johnson, co-founder of JL Partners, believes the Epstein controversy just isn’t a top issue for most voters.
“The scandal isn’t damaging Trump the way it might appear,” he said.
“People are more focused on things like the economy, immigration, and leadership.”
Even with some dissatisfaction about the Epstein saga, Trump still holds strong support among Republicans — 91% of them are sticking by him.
Independents Break Away from Trump on Epstein
While over half of Republicans (52%) say Trump has done a decent job handling the Epstein files, independents feel very differently.
Only 13% of them approve, and a solid 50% disapprove of the administration’s approach.
The gap between how party loyalists and swing voters view Trump’s actions could shape how things play out as the election season heats up.
Trump Fights Back Against Damaging Birthday Letter Report
In a dramatic turn, Trump has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal for claiming he once sent Epstein a bizarre birthday note — complete with a hand-drawn image of a naked woman and the words, “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Trump flat-out denied the story, calling it “fake news,” and vowed to hold the publication accountable in court.