Public Sentiment on Trump’s Actions Grows Negative
As President Donald Trump nears the 100-day mark of his second term, approval ratings aren’t looking too rosy. Recent surveys show that only 40% of Americans give him a thumbs-up for how he’s handling his presidency. This figure reflects a worrying dip of about seven points since February. The sentiments don’t appear to favour Trump’s policies either. For instance, a whopping 59% of Americans disapprove of the administration’s tariff hikes, while 55% are unhappy with cuts to federal agencies. It seems, the closer we get to that 100-day milestone, the heavier the weight of dissatisfaction grows.
Partisan Gaps Widen as Trump Faces Challenges
In a landscape of mixed reactions, the survey conducted by Pew Research sheds light on the strong bipartisan agreement regarding Trump’s need to adhere to rulings from federal courts. A striking 78% believe he should follow court directives, and this number jumps to 88% when discussing potential Supreme Court decisions. The lingering question seems to be the extent of his policies—51% of adults argue he relies too heavily on executive orders. As Trump’s April tariffs caused market tremors, public sentiment appears somewhat stagnant despite the volatile backdrop. Interestingly, while the Republican base remains largely supportive of his overall performance, approval among Democrats paints a starkly different picture – disapproval rates of his job performance have reached a staggering 93%.
Economic Outlook Dims Amid Partisan Disagreement
In the grand scheme, Trump’s standing at 40% approval mimics a similar trajectory to his first term, but lagging behind predecessors like Joe Biden, who saw a higher 59% approval in 2021. If history tells us anything, it’s that the early days of a presidency can be telling. The perception of Trump’s policies is divisive: immigration efforts top the list of what some admire, yet almost the same number criticise, revealing the President’s polarising style of governance. Additionally, there’s alarm over cuts to federal budgets—with 59% of folks feeling they are ‘too careless’. Consequently, the public’s outlook on the economy has shifted, with a growing belief that things could get worse in the coming year. A crossroads of optimism and pessimism looms, balancing on Trump’s controversial policies against lingering hopes of recovery.
