Politics is a weird business. One day you’re the loudest voice in the room demanding a total ban on an app, and the next, you’re its self-proclaimed savior. If you’ve been following the headlines lately, you know exactly who we’re talking about. Donald Trump has a long history of making bold, definitive statements, but as the political winds shift, so do the scripts.
The phrase "he might not be saying that now" has basically become a recurring theme of his second term. It’s not just about changing his mind—it’s about the strategic pivot. Whether it's TikTok, mail-in ballots, or even his stance on electric vehicles, the version of Trump we see in 2026 is often a direct contradiction of the version from 2020.
The Great TikTok Flip-Flop
Remember 2020? Trump was on a warpath against TikTok. He issued executive orders, cited massive national security risks, and basically told the country the app was a Trojan horse for the Chinese government. He wanted it gone. Period.
Fast forward to 2024 and 2025. Suddenly, the tune changed. Why? Well, for one, TikTok became a massive campaign tool. After seeing his engagement numbers hit the billions, Trump started asking, "Why would I want to get rid of it?" He even started calling it a "great platform" that young people love.
The irony is thick. While his administration is still technically navigating the legal fallout of the 2024 "divest-or-ban" law, Trump has been looking for ways to "preserve" the app. He’s gone from calling it a threat to national security to suggesting he can make a "deal" to keep it alive. It’s a classic example of how personal utility—and maybe a few conversations with billionaire donors like Jeff Yass—can completely rewrite a policy position.
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Abortion: The "States' Rights" Shuffle
This is perhaps the most delicate area where "he might not be saying that now" applies. During his first term and the subsequent years, Trump took massive credit for the overturning of Roe v. Wade. He bragged about appointing the justices who made it happen.
But as the 2024 election loomed and now into his second term, the rhetoric has shifted to a "let the states decide" mantra.
- He’s resisted calls from the further right for a federal ban.
- He’s explicitly stated that the issue is back where "everybody wanted it" (a claim many legal experts and voters would contest).
- His administration has focused more on executive orders regarding taxpayer funding rather than a blanket national prohibition.
It’s a pragmatic retreat. He knows a national ban is a political lightning rod, so he’s pivoted to a position that allows him to dodge the heat while still throwing red meat to his base through smaller, administrative wins.
The Elon Musk Effect on EVs
For years, Trump mocked electric vehicles. He’d talk about how they don’t go far enough, how they’re a scam, and how they’re "killing" the American auto industry. Honestly, it was a staple of his rally speeches.
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Then came Elon Musk.
After Musk’s heavy financial and vocal support during the 2024 cycle, Trump’s tone on EVs didn't just soften; it basically did a 180. He started talking about how "great" Musk is and how the U.S. needs to lead in "all forms" of transportation. By early 2026, we’ve seen a shift from total hostility to a more "America First" manufacturing approach to EVs. He still hates the subsidies (or says he does), but he’s stopped calling the cars themselves a disaster.
The Mail-In Ballot Paradox
If there was one thing Trump was consistent about from 2020 to 2022, it was that mail-in voting was "corrupt" and "rigged." He spent years telling his supporters to only vote in person.
But you know what happens when you tell your supporters not to use a convenient voting method? You lose close elections.
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By the time the 2024 race heated up, the GOP launched a massive "Swamp the Vote" campaign. Trump himself started telling people that mail-in ballots were actually okay—as long as they were "secure." Even though he still occasionally rants about them on Truth Social, his official stance has become: "Do it, because the other side is doing it."
Why the Pivot Matters
It’s easy to dismiss this as "just politics," but these shifts have real-world consequences. When a leader changes their mind on TikTok, it affects international trade and data privacy laws. When they pivot on abortion, it changes the legal landscape for millions of women.
What Trump is saying now is often a reflection of the most recent person he talked to or the most recent poll he saw. For voters, it means his "word" is less of a fixed North Star and more of a moving target.
Actionable Insights: How to Navigate the Rhetoric
In an era where "he might not be saying that now" is the rule rather than the exception, you have to look at actions over words.
- Watch the Executive Orders: Speeches are for rallies; EOs are for reality. If you want to know his real stance on immigration or trade, look at what he’s actually signing, not what he’s shouting at a podium in Ohio.
- Follow the Money: Shifts in policy often follow shifts in donor support. The move toward EVs is a perfect example of how a major backer can change a platform.
- Check the Judicial Appointments: Trump’s long-term legacy isn't in his tweets; it’s in the hundreds of federal judges he’s appointed. Even if his rhetoric shifts to be more moderate, the judges he puts in place often hold much more rigid, conservative lines.
- Diversify Your News: Because the narrative changes so fast, don't rely on a single source. Compare what he says on Truth Social with what his Press Secretary says, and then look at what the actual legislation looks like.
The reality is that Donald Trump is a master of the "strategic flip." He stays relevant by staying unpredictable. If you're waiting for him to stick to one script, you might be waiting a long time.
Keep an eye on the 2026 midterm cycles—that's when we'll see which of these new positions stick and which ones get tossed in the bin for something even newer.