As the one-year mark of Donald Trump’s inauguration as President approaches, a new report sheds light on how Americans view his presidency.
Donald Trump began his second term as the 47th President of the United States in January.
During his 11 months in office, the 79-year-old has enacted significant policy changes, affecting areas such as immigration, the economy, and global trade.
The economy saw substantial changes due to new tariffs, and the federal government experienced a historic shutdown from October to November.
Internationally, Trump has been active in addressing conflicts, including a notable meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss Ukraine’s conflict.
Domestically, Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to major cities, such as Washington D.C., aimed to address rising crime rates.
Despite these efforts, Trump’s approval ratings have dropped significantly. In October, a survey of over 1,000 Americans showed a disapproval rating of 63 percent, close to his all-time low of 66 percent after the Capitol Hill events in January 2021.
Recent polling indicates growing discontent among Americans about the cost-of-living crisis and the administration’s slow progress on the Jeffrey Epstein files.
A New York Times poll suggests a slight improvement for Trump, with a 42 percent approval rating compared to a 55 percent disapproval as of December 5.
However, concerns persist regarding Trump’s economic management. A recent Reuters poll revealed only 26 percent of respondents felt positive about his handling of living costs.
Support from Trump’s Republican base appears to be weakening, as a Marquette University poll shows a drop in approval for his economic policies from 82 percent in July to 75 percent.
Beyond economic issues, voters are concerned about foreign conflicts, the federal budget, Ukraine, and healthcare policies.
According to a Gallup Poll, Trump’s highest approval ratings are in areas like crime (43 percent), foreign affairs (41 percent), foreign trade (39 percent), and immigration (37 percent).
Support among white, college-educated men has also decreased, with a Fox News poll showing a drop from 40 percent to 47 percent in June.
A survey of 1,628 adults taken from November 28 to December 1 indicates Trump’s net approval rating remains at -15 or lower for the seventh consecutive week.
The Economist/YouGov poll highlights that during Trump’s first term, his net approval rating never stayed below -15 for more than three consecutive weeks.
To make matters worse, Joe Biden’s net approval rating was -9 at this point in his presidency, and former President Barack Obama remains more popular among voters.
The data suggests challenging times ahead for the Republican party as they face next year’s midterms. A considerable portion of Americans, 55 percent, are inclined to vote for Democratic candidates, compared to 41 percent who would choose Republicans.