Trump’s approval rating on economy at lowest of presidential career
President Trump’s Economic Approval Numbers Hit All-Time Low
President Donald Trump is facing the worst economic approval numbers of his presidency, according to the latest CNBC All-America Economic Survey. The survey reveals broad discontent over his handling of tariffs, inflation, and government spending.
The boost in economic optimism that accompanied Trump’s reelection has vanished, with more Americans now believing the economy will worsen than at any time since 2023. There has also been a sharp shift towards pessimism about the stock market.
The survey of 1,000 Americans showed 44% approving of Trump’s presidency, while 51% disapproved. On the economy, Trump received 43% approval and 55% disapproval, marking the first time he has been net negative on the economy in any CNBC poll during his presidency.
While Trump’s Republican base remains supportive, Democrats are 30 points more negative than their average during his first term, and independents are 23 points more negative. Blue collar workers, a key demographic in Trump’s election victory, have shown a 14-point increase in disapproval compared to his first term.
“Donald Trump was reelected specifically to improve the economy, and so far, people are not liking what they’re seeing,” said Jay Campbell, partner with Hart Associates, the Democratic pollster on the survey.
The survey, conducted from April 9th to 13th, has a margin of error of +/-3.1%.
Despite strong support from his base, Trump has struggled to convince the broader public that his economic policies will benefit the country in the long run. A significant portion of the public, including a majority of Democrats and independents, believe the economy will deteriorate over the next year.
While partisanship plays a significant role in Trump’s negative ratings, he has also lost support among Republicans on key issues like tariffs and inflation. Independents have shown a notable decline in approval as well.
Public sentiment towards tariffs is largely negative, with Americans disapproving of across-the-board tariffs and viewing them as detrimental to American workers, inflation, and the overall economy. Majorities see Canada, Mexico, the EU, and Japan as economic opportunities for the US, with China being perceived as a threat.
Trump’s handling of inflation, federal government spending, and foreign policy has also drawn disapproval from the public. However, he received higher approval ratings for his immigration policies, particularly on the Southern border and deportation of illegal immigrants.
Americans have become more pessimistic about the stock market, with a majority believing it’s a bad time to invest. This marks a significant shift from the optimism that followed Trump’s election.
While Trump’s approval ratings are low, there has not been a significant shift in congressional preference, with Democrats holding a slight edge over Republicans, according to the survey.
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