Recent polling indicates a notable decline in President Donald Trump’s approval rating concerning his handling of the U.S. economy. Amid rising concerns over inflation and the potential for a recession, his economic approval has fallen to its lowest level in his second term.
According to Newsweek, this drop in approval reflects a growing sense of economic anxiety among Americans, with many believing the economy is worsening.
The shift in sentiment highlights the increasing dissatisfaction with Trump’s economic policies as the nation grapples with uncertainty in the financial landscape.
Polling Data Reveals Decline in Economic Approval
According to a recent poll by YouGov and Yahoo, Trump’s approval rating on the economy stands at just 39%, with 51% of Americans disapproving of his handling of economic issues.
This marks the lowest level of approval for Trump on economic matters since the beginning of his second term, even lower than during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in May and June 2020, when 49% approved and 45% disapproved.
Economic Concerns Among Americans Grow
The latest numbers reflect increasing economic anxiety across the country. A large portion of Americans believe the U.S. economy is either already in a recession or heading toward one, with 26% rating the economy as “excellent” or “good.”
Additionally, 47% of respondents think the economy is worsening, underscoring widespread concern about economic instability. These figures represent a decline from pre-election assessments, when 30% of Americans rated the economy positively and 67% viewed it as fair or poor.
Trump has sought to blame inflation on his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, stating that the U.S. economy “went to hell” under Biden’s administration. During a White House event, he mentioned,
We inherited from the last administration an economic catastrophe and an inflation nightmare.
However, a Morning Consult poll, published on March 20, reveals that the message no longer resonates with voters. According to the poll, more voters now believe current economic conditions are the result of Trump’s policies (46%) rather than Biden’s (41%).
Voters shift blame to Trump over Biden
Several polls highlight this shift in voter sentiment. In comparison to February, when 44% of respondents attributed economic conditions to Biden, 46% now hold Trump accountable. This change reflects the growing dissatisfaction with Trump’s handling of the economy.
Despite the economy being a primary concern for voters, Trump’s actions in his second term seem to focus more on immigration and government spending.
A large portion of respondents in a YouGov and Yahoo poll chose immigration (37%) and government spending (25%) as issues that Trump is most focused on, rather than the economy or the cost of living (which were selected by just 9% and 2%, respectively).
Voters have expressed concerns that Trump’s priorities are misaligned with the issues they deem most urgent.
Polls, like the Echelon Insights survey, show a similar trend, where voters think Trump is focused on tariffs (16%) and his own personal interests (14%), rather than on the economy (9%) or the cost of living (2%). When asked what Trump should focus on, voters chose the economy (38%) and inflation (20%).
Trump’s overall approval rating drops
Trump’s overall approval rating has also taken a hit, with a net approval of -3 points, according to Newsweek’s tracker. This decline is consistent with other recent polls, which show Trump facing negative ratings across the board.
The latest Fox News poll put his net approval rating at -2 points, and the Navigator Research poll also shows a -2 net approval. Despite this, Trump’s approval rating is still slightly higher than at the same point in his first term, where it stood at 45%.
Trump’s current approval rating of 47% is lower than former President Joe Biden’s approval rating at the same point in his presidency. On March 28, 2021, Biden had an approval rating of 53%, compared to 43% disapproving of his performance.
This comparison further highlights Trump’s lagging popularity when juxtaposed with Biden’s standing.
Expert Analysis on Trump’s Declining Popularity
Thomas Gift, an associate professor of political science at University College London, told Newsweek,
It’s premature to say that Trump’s honeymoon period is over. Yet it’s certainly the case that the luster of his inauguration is starting to fade.
Trump promised Americans that prices would precipitously decline immediately after taking office. While most Trump voters are willing to give the president more time for his economic plans to unfold, others are starting to recognize that Trump has no silver bullet for the economy.
Gift notes that Trump’s key policy items, such as tariffs and mass deportations, may be exacerbating inflation instead of addressing it.
Trump’s approval rating could continue to fluctuate depending on the outcome of key political events in the coming weeks, such as critical negotiations regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, the growing tariff battle with countries like Canada, and mounting concerns about a potential recession.
