Donald Trump, having reclaimed the Oval Office, started his second term with some of the highest approval ratings of his political career. However, as he approaches the 100-day mark of his presidency, Americans’ opinions on his performance have sharply turned negative, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS.

With a 41% approval rating, Trump now holds the lowest approval figure for any newly elected president at 100 days since Dwight Eisenhower, surpassing even his own first-term numbers.

Since March, his approval has dropped by 4 points, and it’s 7 points lower than it was in late February. Only 22% of respondents strongly approve of his presidency, marking a new low, while 45% strongly disapprove—a number that’s nearly double the level of strong approval.

The decline in approval has been particularly pronounced among women and Hispanic Americans, with approval ratings falling 7 points in each group to 36% among women and 28% among Hispanics. Trump's approval remains highly partisan, with 86% of Republicans backing him and 93% of Democrats disapproving. However, his standing among independents has also slipped, with only 31% expressing approval, which mirrors his first-term low.

On several major issues that have defined his presidency, Trump’s approval ratings are significantly down. His economic approval has seen a sharp decline, dropping 9 points to 35% on inflation and 4 points to 35% on tariffs, as his tariff policies have caused stock market volatility and sparked concerns over rising prices. His overall handling of the economy now sits at a career low of 39%, with only 52% expressing confidence in his economic management, a drop of 13 points since December.

“I’m disappointed,” said an independent voter from Virginia. “I didn’t vote for him, but I gave him a chance, hoping he could help the economy, but it’s been further disappointment.”

Trump's efforts to reshape the federal government have similarly lost support, with approval for his handling of government operations falling to 42%, down 6 points since March. Only 46% have confidence in his ability to appoint the best people, a drop of 8 points since December. Many Americans feel that his approach is unnecessarily risky, with 57% expressing concern over the potential dangers of his leadership style.

Derek Steinmetz, a Democrat from Wisconsin, voiced his worries about Trump’s disregard for governmental norms. “It’s much worse this time around,” he said. “There are fewer guardrails in place.”

On foreign affairs, Trump’s approval also remains in negative territory, with 39% supporting his handling of international relations and 60% disapproving. Confidence in his foreign policy skills has dipped, dropping from 55% before he took office to just half of Americans expressing confidence today.

Even on immigration, an area where Trump had previously garnered significant approval, his ratings have fallen. Only 45% now approve of his handling of immigration, down 6 points from March, and confidence in his ability to manage the issue has dropped from 60% to 53%.

However, Trump has received positive ratings on one issue: his stance on gender identity and transgender issues, with 51% approval overall, including 90% of Republicans, 48% of independents, and 16% of Democrats.

“I’m glad he said there’s only male and female,” said Lisa Munson, a Maryland mother who supported Trump. “It’s good that he put that into law.”

Trump’s influence on American culture and history, particularly his control over institutions like the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian, has drawn widespread criticism, with 64% of Americans finding his actions inappropriate.

Trump’s job approval sits at 41%, a level matched by Vice President JD Vance, who also faces disapproval from 58% of the public. Both Trump and Vance have struggled to maintain favor with most Americans, with only 40% viewing the president positively and 34% holding a favorable view of Vance.

Overall, Americans' confidence in Trump to use presidential power responsibly has dropped 8 points, with only 46% expressing trust in his leadership, and only half believing he will provide real leadership for the country. Many of his executive orders have been challenged in court, causing frustration among some voters.

“I’m not a fan of executive orders,” said George Mastrodonato, a Trump supporter from New Mexico. “He goes overboard, and some of them get shot down in court because he doesn’t have the authority to do that.”

Despite the negative trends, many Americans still believe Trump’s second term will bring lasting change. Fifty-two percent believe he will fundamentally alter the country, while 36% feel these changes will fade after his presidency ends.

Trump's efforts to keep his campaign promises have drawn mixed reactions, with 48% of Americans approving of his progress and 51% disapproving—numbers that closely mirror his first term. While a majority (55%) believe Trump has made some progress on national issues, only 28% feel that his actions have begun to address the country’s most pressing problems.


(Wafric News)