Trump Faces Record-Low 100-Day Approval Rating Amid Growing Public Disapproval

 

Donald Trump

Donald Trump regained the Oval Office and took control of the government with the strongest poll numbers of his political career. However, as his presidency nears the 100-day mark, a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS shows that Americans' views of his actions so far have become notably negative.

Trump’s approval rating stands at 41%, the lowest for any newly elected president at the 100-day milestone, a record dating back to Dwight Eisenhower. This is even lower than his approval during his first term.

Approval of Trump's handling of the presidency has dropped by 4 points since March and is now 7 points lower than it was in late February. Only 22% of Americans strongly approve of his job performance, a new low, while 45% strongly disapprove.

The poll highlights significant drops in approval from women and Hispanic Americans, both declining by 7 points to 36% and 28%, respectively. Partisan opinions remain highly polarized, with 86% of Republicans approving and 93% of Democrats disapproving. Among independents, however, Trump’s approval has dropped to 31%, matching his first-term low among this group and reflecting his standing in January 2021.

Trump's approval ratings have also declined on several major issues. His handling of economic matters has worsened since March, following his tariff policy that caused stock market volatility and fears of rising prices. His approval on inflation has decreased by 9 points to 35%, and his approval on tariffs has dropped by 4 points to 35%. Overall, his approval for managing the economy has fallen to a career-low 39%. Confidence in his ability to handle the economy has dropped 13 points since December, now at 52%.

On government management, Trump’s approval is down by 6 points to 42%, and only 46% express confidence in his ability to appoint the right people to office, an 8-point decrease from December. Many Americans (57%) believe his approach to government is putting the country at risk, while 43% view his actions as a necessary shake-up.

In foreign affairs, Trump has faced widespread disapproval, with only 39% approving of his handling of international relations, particularly his friendly stance toward Russia and cuts to foreign aid. Confidence in his ability to manage foreign affairs has dropped to 50%, down from 55% before his presidency.

Trump's approval on immigration issues has also fallen, with only 45% approving now, down 6 points from March, and 53% expressing confidence in his immigration policies, a decrease from 60% in December.

Trump's handling of gender identity issues, however, is seen more favorably, with 51% approving, including 90% of Republicans, 48% of independents, and 16% of Democrats.

Despite his challenges, Trump’s efforts to shape arts, culture, and American history have faced criticism. Sixty-four percent of Americans find his interventions, such as attempting to take control of the Kennedy Center and influencing Smithsonian exhibits, inappropriate.

Trump's approval rating overall is tied at 41% with Vice President JD Vance, who similarly faces a 58% disapproval rate. Neither Trump nor Vance is highly favored by the public. Only 40% have a favorable view of Trump, while 34% hold a positive opinion of Vance.

Confidence in Trump to responsibly wield presidential power has dropped to 46%, and his ability to provide leadership has also decreased to 50%. Trump has issued numerous executive orders, many of which have been blocked in court. Some voters express frustration with his frequent use of executive orders, feeling that he oversteps his authority.

Despite these issues, more than half of Americans (52%) believe that Trump's second presidency will fundamentally change the country, though opinions remain divided. While 48% believe he is doing well in fulfilling his campaign promises, 51% feel he is not, reflecting a similar sentiment from his first term. A majority (55%) say Trump has taken at least some action to address the nation's problems, although only 28% feel that his actions are already producing positive results.

The poll, conducted between April 17-24 with 1,678 adult respondents, has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.