Memo: Combating Trump's Coronavirus Messaging

By Charlotte Swasey Vice President of Data and Polling

Data for Progress ran a message test on different potential Democratic responses to Trump’s claims that he is doing a “great job” handling the coronavirus crisis, to determine which were the most effective.

Executive Summary

  • The most effective messaging focuses on the human damage Trump has done without personally attacking him

  • Messages with specifics of how he’s slashed the safety net and put Americans at risk with failed pandemic response decreased Trump vote share as well as decreasing approval of his handling of the crisis

  • Abstracts are less effective, like talking about “the economy” in general

  • Talking about the human/social cost is effective in changing views about the economy

  • Detailing Trump’s actions can neutralize his messaging

  • His failure to provide enough tests and ventilators is a powerful thing to highlight

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