"It is a contemporary political cliche that American politics is deeply polarised. Americans settled on their views of Mr Trump early. Those views are firmly held and to a degree not seen in decades cut across party lines. A major factor in Mr Trump’s 2016 victory was party switching by 2012 Obama voters. A major factor in the Republicans’ 2018 loss of the House of Representative (the lower house of Congress) was party switching by Republican women in affluent suburbs. Since Mr Trump took office, through now discredited investigations, a disgraced impeachment attempt, a soaring pre-COVID economy and significant foreign and security policy achievements, the President’s popularity has remained astonishingly stable."

"What President Reagan was doing, what John Paul II was doing, what Margaret Thatcher was doing – all three were appealing to the power of spirit in the hearts of men and women. Be not afraid; you are not alone; your resistance is not futile. That was their central message. You are not alone. We are with you."