NYT Opinion Says 2024 Trump 'Vibe Shift' Was a Mirage, Not a Lasting Realignment
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 29
NYT Opinion Says 2024 Trump 'Vibe Shift' Was a Mirage, Not a Lasting Realignment
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 29
Summary
The New York Times argued the post-2024 belief that Donald Trump had pushed the country decisively MAGA-ward has not held up, portraying the supposed cultural and political realignment as overstated.
The piece says early signs of a durable shift have faded: Republicans have kept losing special elections, Gen Z still polls as the most progressive generation, and conservative media has slid into infighting.
It also points to backlash against tech accelerationism, AI and data centers, while some podcasters once cast as MAGA intellectuals have distanced themselves from Trump on multiple issues.
The essay says the mirage looked convincing between the July 2024 assassination attempt on Trump and Elon Musk's May 2025 exit from the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, when elites rushed to accommodate what seemed like a new era.