President Donald Trump is approaching his first 100 days back in office under a growing cloud of public disapproval, as a series of new polls highlight Americans’ mounting skepticism toward his leadership.
Three separate national surveys released on Sunday show a majority of Americans disapprove of Trump’s performance. His approval rating — ranging between 39% and 45% across the polls — marks the lowest level recorded for a newly elected U.S. president at the 100-day milestone in over seventy years, according to CNN.
The Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll reports that only 39% of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s handling of the presidency. Similarly, a CNN/SSRS poll records a 41% approval rating, while NBC News’ Stay Tuned survey finds a slightly higher approval at 45%.
This downturn represents a notable shift from the optimism that followed Trump’s return to the White House in January, when his favorability ratings experienced a brief boost.
Economic Confidence Wanes
Economic issues — a cornerstone of Trump’s 2024 campaign — appear to be contributing significantly to the erosion of public confidence. Despite emphasizing economic strength during his campaign, Trump’s aggressive tariff policies have rattled financial markets and stoked fears of a downturn.
The CNN/SSRS survey finds that 52% of Americans still express confidence in Trump’s ability to manage the economy, but this represents a sharp 13-point decline from December figures. Alarmingly, the Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll shows that 72% of Americans believe Trump’s economic policies are either ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ likely to trigger a recession in the near future.
Further complicating matters, the NBC News poll reveals that majorities disapprove of Trump’s handling of trade and tariffs (61%), as well as inflation and the cost of living (60%).
Immigration Strategy Under Scrutiny
Immigration — another pivotal issue during Trump’s campaign and presidency — is also contributing to the sagging approval numbers. The CNN/SSRS poll indicates that approval of Trump’s handling of immigration has dropped significantly to 45%, down from 60% in December.
Partisan Divide Remains Stark
Predictably, Trump’s approval ratings reflect deep partisan divisions. While the majority of Republicans continue to back the president, most Democrats strongly disapprove of his leadership. Among independents — a key voting bloc that Trump narrowly lost in November — 58% disapprove of his handling of the presidency, according to the Washington Post poll.
Looking Ahead
As Trump prepares for the symbolic 100-day mark of his presidency, the polling data paints a challenging picture. While historically the first 100 days are seen as a key barometer of a new administration’s political strength, for Trump, it may signal an urgent need to recalibrate — particularly on economic policy and immigration — if he hopes to regain broader public support.
The political stakes are only likely to rise, with major international and domestic issues looming, including ongoing tensions surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict and an increasingly fragile economic outlook.
Credits: CNBC
