Donald Trump's Approval Rating Takes Unexpected Turn - Newsweek

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Martha McHardy is a U.S. News reporter based in London, U.K. Her focus is on polling and California politics. She has covered U.S. news extensively, including the 2024 election and pro-Palestine protests at U.S. colleges. Martha joined Newsweek in 2024 from The Independent and had previously freelanced at The Sun, The Mirror and MyLondon. She is a graduate of Durham University and did her NCTJ at News Associates. You can get in touch with Martha by emailing m.mchardy@newsweek.com. 

Donald Trump's once-unshakable image as a strong steward of the economy is facing a dramatic reversal, according to new polling, which suggests that the president's greatest political strength has become a major liability.

Why It Matters

Trump began his second term with higher approval ratings than ever. But in recent weeks, polls have started to show his popularity rating firmly underwater after he released his new program of "Liberation Day" tariffs, which rocked markets and heightened concerns about inflation and a possible recession.

What To Know

For years, Trump's economic messaging—centered on tax cuts, deregulation, and an "America First" trade agenda—was his political armor. Even when his overall approval ratings sagged, voters consistently gave him his highest marks on the economy. It was the issue that helped carry him through the 2016 election, buoyed his presidency, and has remained a central pillar of his 2024 campaign.

But that firewall is now showing serious cracks.

A new Navigator Research poll conducted April 24-28 among 1,000 registered voters finds Trump's approval on the economy has plunged to a net -16.

Just 40 percent of Americans approve of his handling of the economy, while 56 percent disapprove. That represents the lowest economic rating for Trump in Navigator's tracking history—and a dramatic shift for a president who has built much of his brand around promises of prosperity, growth, and job creation.

President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on April 30, 2025.President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on April 30, 2025.Evan Vucci/AP

Among independents, the numbers are even more troubling. Trump's net economic approval among this critical voting bloc stands at -31, signaling a collapse in confidence from the very swing voters who once trusted him most on financial issues.

On specific economic concerns, Trump fares no better. His net approval on inflation and the cost of living has fallen to -29. On tariffs—once a signature policy intended to protect American industry, his approval sits at -26. Among independents, just 18 percent approve of his tariff policies. Across both issues, support is now confined mainly to Republicans who identify with the MAGA movement.

The poll, which has a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points, reflects growing voter anxiety following Trump's announcement on April 2 of new "Liberation Day" tariffs. The sweeping move roiled the markets, triggering an immediate sell-off that was followed by a rebound days later. But the political damage may have already been done.

Trump's handling of the situation appears to have deepened public unease. Voters are increasingly worried that his economic policies could stoke inflation or tip the country into a recession. According to a Decision Desk HQ/NewsNation poll conducted April 23-27 among 1,448 registered voters, a staggering 82 percent of Americans say they're worried about a potential recession under Trump. Nearly half said they were "very concerned," while only 4 percent said they weren't concerned at all.

Inflation remains top of mind: 91 percent of respondents said they were at least somewhat concerned about rising prices, and 59 percent identified inflation as the biggest problem facing the country. The economy contracted by 0.3 percent in the first quarter of 2025—the first decline in three years—only amplifying the public's economic anxiety.

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Trump responded to the latest data on social media Wednesday, shifting blame onto his successor. "This is Biden's Stock Market, not Trump's," he posted. "I didn't take over until January 20th. Tariffs will soon start kicking in, and companies are starting to move into the USA in record numbers."

But the numbers tell a different story. According to the same Decision Desk/NewsNation poll, 53 percent of Americans believe the country is worse off economically than a year ago. When asked about the tariffs, 64 percent said they hurt consumers and raise prices, while only 36 percent said they protect American jobs. The poll had a margin of error of +/-2.4 percentage points.

Donald Trump's Approval Ratings

As the economy has taken a hit, so have Trump's overall approval ratings, which have been declining in recent weeks.

Newsweek's tracker shows that Trump's approval rating currently stands at 44 percent, while 53 percent disapprove, marking one of his lowest approval ratings to date.

Other polls have also shown this trend. In the latest YouGov/Yahoo poll, conducted April 25-28 among 1,597 respondents, his approval dropped from 44 percent in March to 42 percent, while disapproval rose from 50 percent to 53 percent, widening his net negative from -6 to -11. The poll had a margin of error of ±2.9 percentage points.

Emerson College also released a poll yesterday, which showed that Trump's approval rating had dropped marginally, from 47 percent to 45 percent, since March, while his disapproval rating remained the same at 45 percent. The most recent poll was conducted April 25-28 among 1,000 registered voters and had a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.

Trump also saw a drop in Navigator's latest poll, which suggested 44 percent of Americans approve of Trump's performance as president, while 54 percent disapprove. That is down from a 48 percent approval rating in February and up from a 49 percent disapproval rating.

Meanwhile, the latest CNN poll, conducted April 17-24 among 1,678 respondents, suggested that he had the lowest approval rating for any president after 100 days since Dwight D. Eisenhower and that Trump is now less popular than he was at the same point during his first term.

NewsNation's poll showed that a majority, 56 percent, of respondents disapproved of Trump's second-term performance so far, and 44 percent approved.

But opinions are divided starkly along party lines. The poll showed that 86 percent of Republicans approved of his performance, while just 10 percent of Democrats said the same.

On Tuesday, Trump dismissed recent approval rating polling, which he called "fake."

How Donald Trump's Approval Rating Compares to First Term

The RealClearPolitics tracker showed that on May 1, 2017, Trump's approval rating was 43 percent, while his disapproval rating was 52 percent, giving him a net approval rating of -9 points, making Trump marginally equally as unpopular now as the same point in his first stint in the Oval Office.

However, other polls have shown that Trump is less popular now than he was at the same point during his first term.

How Donald Trump's Approval Rating Compares to Joe Biden's

Trump's 44 percent approval rating is lower than that of former President Joe Biden at the same point in his presidency. On May 1, 2021, Biden stood at 54 percent, with a disapproval rating of 42 percent, according to RealClearPolitics.

While Trump began his second term with higher approval ratings than ever before, according to Gallup's first poll of Trump's second term, conducted between January 21 and 27, he was still less popular than any president since 1953 at the start of a term and the only one to begin with a sub-50 percent approval rating. Gallup said Biden started his first term with a 57 percent approval rating.

And according to data compiled from Gallup by The American Presidency Project, Trump ranks far below other recently elected presidents after 100 days, dating back to Eisenhower, who had an approval rating of 73 percent.

Other elected presidents enjoyed solid support from the American public just over three months into their terms: John F. Kennedy 83 percent; Richard Nixon 62 percent; Jimmy Carter 63 percent; Ronald Reagan 68 percent; George H.W. Bush 56 percent; Bill Clinton 55 percent; George W. Bush 62 percent; and Barack Obama 65 percent.

What People Are Saying

Mike Nellis, a Chicago-based Democratic strategist and former senior adviser to Kamala Harris, told Newsweek: "People are upset right now. Donald Trump promised to make grocery prices cheaper on day one, and literally everything is more expensive. Plus, the stock market is tanking. I think people are frustrated with the chaos, they're frustrated with the divisiveness, and they're frustrated that they tried something new yet they're still struggling to put food on the table, buy a house, and retire with dignity."

He added: "It makes a lot of sense to me that people would be this upset. They were mad at Democrats for not doing enough to listen to them, to make them feel seen, to deliver for them. So, they decided to take a risk on going back to Trump and now he's just made everything worse. I don't blame them for being upset. And I think it signals that the Republicans are in deep trouble in the midterms, because people are looking for change again. They're gonna head back our way, and Democrats have to be ready to actually deliver for people if and when we win the next election."

What Happens Next?

Trump's approval rating could fluctuate in the coming weeks, depending on the outcome of key events, including critical negotiations in the Russia-Ukraine war, the evolving tariff situation and concerns about a recession.