Here’s what happened.
President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have dipped slightly in recent polls, but experts say his base remains strong as he rolls out an aggressive new economic strategy to protect American workers and businesses.
Polls Show Temporary Decline in Trump’s Approval Rating
New surveys show a minor drop in President Trump’s approval rating as voters react to recent economic shifts and his bold “America First” tariff policy.
- Rasmussen Reports shows Trump at 48% approval, with 51% disapproval—his lowest since his second term began.
- Morning Consult reports 46% approval, 52% disapproval among 2,207 registered voters.
- A Wall Street Journal poll by Trump’s own pollster, Tony Fabrizio, also shows 46% approval with a 3-point margin of error.
Despite the numbers, analysts say nearly half the country continues to support the President—a powerful base as 2026 midterms approach.
The Economy: Voter Concerns Amid a New Trade Strategy
The slight dip in support is being linked to concerns about the U.S. economy—particularly following Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, a sweeping new trade policy designed to reduce America’s dependence on foreign imports.
These tariffs include:
- A 10% baseline tariff on all imported goods
- Higher tariffs for countries running trade surpluses with the U.S.
- Zero tolerance for nations abusing U.S. markets or intellectual property
The markets responded sharply, with the Dow Jones dropping 349 points on Thursday—its worst day since 2020. The S&P 500 fell 0.2%, raising concerns on Wall Street.
Trump Defends Tariffs: “Sometimes You Have to Take Medicine”
President Trump has firmly defended the plan, reminding voters of his long-standing promise to put American jobs and industry first. Speaking to reporters, he said:
“Sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something.”
On Truth Social, he pointed out key economic positives under his administration:
- “Oil prices are down”
- “Interest rates are down”
- “Food prices are down”
- “There is NO inflation”
- “Billions are flowing into the U.S. from tariffs already in place”
Media Pushes Panic While Main Street Backs the President
While the mainstream media and liberal economists warn of recession, many conservative analysts and working-class Americans support the plan.
Even as Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan raise their 2025 recession forecasts to 35–40%, many believe that Trump’s trade crackdown is necessary to restore balance and fairness to global commerce.
Meanwhile, 58% of voters in a Marquette Law School poll said tariffs could hurt the U.S. economy—but that number has not translated into a meaningful collapse in Trump’s core support.
Historical Perspective: Trump Now More Popular Than Early First Term
Critics compare Trump’s current approval rating to Biden’s numbers at the same point in 2021 (55% approval). But unlike Biden, Trump faces constant attacks from the media and establishment.
Importantly, Trump’s current rating (47%) is 7 points higher than his April 2017 numbers, when he stood at just 40%.
This shows a resilient base—even stronger than in his first term.
Looking Ahead: Tariff Battle, Russia-Ukraine, and the 2026 Midterms
As Trump moves forward, key issues will shape his polling and political influence:
- The global trade war
- Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations
- Domestic inflation and recession fears
- Voter sentiment heading into 2026
Democratic pollster John Anzalone admitted: “Voters are anxious, but they’re still watching. They want to see how this plays out.”