Gonghwa's 'Biden Impeachment Theory' Offensive: Will It Backfire on Approval Ratings? (Comprehensive)

Despite improvements in the U.S. economy, President Joe Biden's approval ratings have failed to break out of a sluggish trend. In contrast, former President Donald Trump saw a surprising rebound in support despite facing his fourth indictment after leaving office and the ignominious distinction of being the only current or former U.S. president to have a mugshot taken. The Republican Party, riding this momentum, has raised calls for Biden's impeachment, but critics argue this move could backfire and actually bolster Biden's approval ratings.

A poll released on the 11th (local time) by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) showed that 66% of respondents with Democratic leanings viewed the current U.S. economic situation positively. Among moderate respondents, 36% shared the same view. These figures represent increases of 9 percentage points each compared to December of last year. Among Republican-leaning respondents, only 8% evaluated the economy positively, unchanged from the previous survey.

U.S. President Joe Biden.
[Photo by AFP Yonhap News]

Despite economic improvements touted as his greatest achievement, President Biden's approval ratings remain weak. Criticism that the large-scale stimulus plan (American Rescue Plan) introduced shortly after Biden took office was the main cause of inflation has fueled negative public opinion regarding economic mismanagement. In fact, only 28% of respondents over Biden’s two years in office said the economy had improved, while 58% believed it had worsened.

Democratic strategist Michael Boshyan analyzed, "While voters' evaluations of the economy have clearly improved, negative views about the extent and direction of economic improvement persist," adding, "It seems that anxieties have not been fully alleviated."

Worsening public opinion toward elderly politicians and health concerns have also contributed to Biden's declining approval ratings. The incident where 81-year-old veteran politician Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze for 30 seconds during a press conference significantly worsened public sentiment toward elderly politicians. WSJ pointed out, "Despite the achievements of 'Bidenomics,' voters are reluctant to support Biden," and noted, "The low approval ratings of a president who has achieved economic growth during his term show how fragile his political standing is."

Former U.S. President Donald Trump. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, former President Trump, surrounded by various legal risks, has seen a surprising turnaround in his approval ratings. Earlier this year, he was trailing Biden in hypothetical matchups, but recent polls tell a different story. A poll released last week by CNN showed Trump’s approval rating at 47%, slightly ahead of Biden’s 46%.

In a poll conducted on the 29th of last month by political media outlet The Hill and Morning Consult, 62% of Republican respondents supported Trump. This represents a 9 percentage point increase from the 53% recorded in a poll conducted on the 20th of last month, matching the highest level seen in April. Trump widened his lead over second-place Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (13%) by 49 percentage points.

This poll result came shortly after Trump, who was criminally indicted for attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, appeared before prosecutors in Georgia and became the first current or former U.S. president to have a mugshot taken.

The Republican Party, capitalizing on this momentum, has initiated efforts to impeach President Biden. On the 12th, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, directed the House to officially begin an impeachment inquiry, citing "abuse of power, obstruction, and corruption" allegations against Biden. CNN reported that at least 30 Republicans are expected to defect from supporting the impeachment resolution, making its passage in both the House and Senate highly unlikely. The network also warned that this aggressive move by the Republicans could deepen internal divisions and politically backfire by strengthening Biden and the Democrats.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.