Around 85% of the time the 2nd month VIX future is priced higher than the front month future. This configuration is called contango in futures' parlance and is usually associated with a drop in $VXX's value. However, contango does not cause $VXX's decline.
$VXX's daily roll of futures from the next to expire month to 2nd month does not change its value. VXX's value is established by the value of the $VIX futures it holds.
Normally when VIX future's term structure is in contango both VIX futures will be trending down, but in some situations, e.g. upcoming uncertainties like elections, the two front-month futures can be steady or increasing in value even when 2nd future priced higher than1st month.
VXX rising in value while the term structure was in contango occurred in late August 2020. For more on contango and its impact on VXX's value see "The Cost of Contango, It's Not the Daily Roll." sixfigureinvesting.com/2016/09/the-co… and sixfigureinvesting.com/2013/04/how-do…
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