Veteran pollster Frank Luntz recently dismissed CNN’s latest narrative, which highlighted job losses and budget cuts under the Trump administration, particularly focusing on fired federal workers. The strategy, used by several Democratic lawmakers during President Donald Trump’s address to Congress, aimed to spotlight the impact of the administration’s policies on terminated federal employees, including veterans.
When asked on CNN whether this focus would resonate with voters, Luntz was quick to dismiss the idea, arguing that the strategy is not effectively connecting with the public. He compared it to previous political mistakes, such as when Democrats attempted to blame Republicans for corporate scandals, which ultimately failed to sway voter opinion.
Luntz emphasized that voters are able to see through the politicization of the issue, suggesting that the tactic is not hitting home as intended. He also pointed out that the focus on job losses among federal employees is missing the mark, especially when considering the broader context of policy changes like the push for budget cuts and government efficiency reforms being led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new agency spearheaded by Elon Musk.
The pollster argued that voters are more concerned with broader issues like government waste and inefficiency than with the political ramifications of federal worker terminations. He suggested that Democrats’ continued focus on the impact of job losses is not resonating, especially as the push for efficiency reform continues to take center stage under Trump’s administration.