Why War Won’t Boost Donald Trump’s Approval

The “rally around the flag” effect in public opinion is real, but doesn’t apply right now.

A US flag is seen above as US President Donald Trump stops to speak with reporters while walking to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House September 21, 2025, in Washington, DC.Photographer: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

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By Gregory Korte and Walter Frick

March 22, 2026 at 8:00 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Welcome back to The Forecast from Bloomberg Weekend, where we help you think about the future — from next week to next decade.

This weekend we’re looking at the “rally around the flag” effect — and why Donald Trump isn’t benefiting from it. Plus, AI will make work more fun and some retirees are choosing to live on cruise ships.