There has been a lot of buzz around comparing Donald Trump’s approval ratings five months into his second term with those from his initial term that began in 2017. Unfortunately for Trump, this time he’s set a new record, but not in a positive way.
Despite predictions that Trump’s political life would end after the 2020 election and subsequent Capitol riots, he made a surprising return by defeating Kamala Harris to reclaim the presidency last November.
Trump had vowed to take a different approach than Joe Biden, but his second term has been marked by numerous controversial changes.
One of the most talked-about recent events is Trump’s introduction of his ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ which resulted in a public clash with Elon Musk, who labeled the bill an ‘abomination’.
Immigration has remained a key focus for Trump, particularly as he deals with anti-ICE protests in LA following recent raids, which have heightened tensions between law enforcement and protestors.
A Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday (June 11) indicates that only 38 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s presidency, whereas 54 percent express disapproval.
Participants in the poll were questioned about Trump’s performance on issues like the economy, immigration, and the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Regarding the conflict, for instance, Americans are largely dissatisfied with Trump’s handling, with just 34 percent expressing approval of his strategy.
Polling analyst Tim Malloy commented: “As the Russia-Ukraine war grinds through its third year, Americans make it clear they have little appetite for the way the Trump administration is handling the situation.”
Trump’s current tenure in the White House marks his second term, following his first from 2017 to 2021, after defeating Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.
Steven Rattner, a New York Times Op-Ed contributing writer and Morning Joe economic analyst, highlighted on Twitter the contrast between Trump’s current approval ratings and those from his first term.
The survey conducted after Trump’s first 100 days back in office revealed that only 39 percent of Americans approved of him.
In comparison, 42 percent approved of Trump after his first 100 days in 2017. However, both terms rank the lowest in comparison to other presidents.
In fact, Trump’s current 100-day approval rating is the lowest of any president in the last 60 years.
“Trump’s 100-day-in approval rating is lower than that of any other president in the last 60 years. The next lowest is Trump’s first term,” Rattner noted.
For context, Barrack Obama had a 69 percent approval rating, while Ronald Reagan boasted an impressive 73 percent, according to the Washington Post.