Two months into Donald Trump’s second term, a significant number of Americans, 41%, believe his presidential performance has been worse than expected, while 30% think it’s been better, according to a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll. Another 22% say Trump has been “about the same” as they expected ¹.
This shift in public opinion is notable, especially when compared to the immediate aftermath of Trump’s reelection in November. At that time, 51% of Americans approved of his handling of his first term, while 43% disapproved. However, those numbers have now reversed, with 50% disapproving and 44% approving of his current performance.
Moreover, Trump’s personal ratings have also taken a hit. More Americans now view him unfavorably (52%) than favorably (44%), a reversal from the narrow favorable rating (49%) he held after the election.
The “honeymoon” effect, where a president’s popularity typically peaks in the initial phase of their presidency, may be wearing off for Trump. While more Americans expected Trump to change America for the better during his second term (45%) than for the worse (33%), slightly more now think he’s doing the opposite, changing the country for the worse (43%) rather than the better (40%).
So, what’s behind Trump’s declining popularity? The poll identifies two main reasons. Firstly, Trump has dominated U.S. politics for a decade, leading to relatively fixed and polarized views of him. While some Democrats softened their opposition to Trump after the election, many have now reverted to opposing him.
Secondly, Trump’s handling of economic issues has been a significant factor. Nearly half of Americans identify the cost of living (23%) or the economy (23%) as the most important issue facing the country. However, when asked about Trump’s priorities, only 2% mention the cost of living, and 9% mention the economy. Instead, 37% say immigration, and 25% say government spending are Trump’s top concerns.
This disconnect between Trump’s priorities and Americans’ concerns comes at a time of persistent economic anxiety. Only 26% of Americans rate the state of the economy as excellent or good, while 70% rate it fair or poor. Most Americans believe the economy is in a recession (26%) or headed toward one (26%).
Trump’s perceived inattention to economic issues has damaged his standing with the public. His rating for handling the economy is 39% approve to 51% disapprove, lower than his overall job rating. His rating for handling the cost of living is even lower, at 34% approve to 54% disapprove.
The president’s main response to America’s economic challenges, hiking tariffs on imported goods, doesn’t appear to be helping. While some Americans agree that tariffs will force companies to manufacture in America and raise revenue for the federal government, many more believe tariffs will cause a recession, increase personal costs, and have a negative effect on the economy.
Overall, Trump’s declining popularity and struggling economic performance suggest a challenging road ahead for his second term.
