Daily Perspectives on Donald Trump among U.S. Citizens
In the heart of Donald Trump's second presidency, starting from January 2025, public opinion has remained a complex tapestry, marked by polarisation and disagreement, particularly in relation to his tariffs, immigration policy, economic and foreign policy.
Tariffs: Trump's use of tariffs as a trade policy tool continues to draw criticism both domestically and internationally. Initially promising economic revival, his trade policies have contributed to continued inflationary pressures, with approval ratings rarely exceeding 50%. [3]
Immigration Policy: Trump's second term has seen a reinforcement of hardline immigration measures, mirroring his first term's stance. Public opinion remains divided, with his base largely supportive, but broader national and international opinions more critical, especially due to perceived weakening of protections and due process for immigrants. [4]
Economic Policy: Trump's economic policies, including large federal grant cancellations, cuts to scientific research, deregulation favoring fossil fuels, and aggressive moves against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in government, have sparked controversy and criticisms suggesting potential harm to innovation and scientific progress. [4][5]
Foreign Policy: On the global stage, Trump's approval lags behind Joe Biden's 2024 ratings by about twelve percentage points among 24 surveyed countries. His "Pay-for-Access" model during his presidency has attracted scrutiny, with allegations of favoritism towards donors and political allies impacting regulatory and policy decisions, potentially undermining diplomatic credibility. [1]
General Public Opinion: Surveys in early 2024 showed some support within certain demographics, such as Americans aged 50 to 64 years who believed Trump was better suited to preserve democracy than Biden, though older voters favored Biden on this issue. Throughout his second term, approval ratings have hovered below 50%, indicating ongoing polarisation and skepticism regarding Trump's governance. [2][3]
The NZZ, a leading global news organisation, offers a critical and fact-based outside view, focusing on thoughtful, well-researched stories and analyses. The article is updated daily with the latest polling data and provides links to a selection of free content. It is regularly reviewed and revised to reflect new trends.
Interestingly, Trump's net approval ratings on economic and foreign policy have turned negative, with a slight improvement compared to his first term. [6] However, the economy remains the most pressing issue in the eyes of most Americans. [6]
[1] NZZ, "Trump's Foreign Policy Faces Criticism," 2025 [2] Gallup Poll, "Trump vs. Biden: Demographic Divides," 2024 [3] Pew Research Center, "Trump's Approval Ratings Remain Low," 2025 [4] Brookings Institution, "Trump's Immigration Policies: A Critical Analysis," 2025 [5] Nature, "The Impact of Trump's Policies on Scientific Research," 2025 [6] NZZ, "Polling Data Shows Trump's Net Approval Ratings Turn Negative," 2025
Research on Trump's second presidency indicates that his economic policies, which include cuts to scientific research and deregulation favoring fossil fuels, have garnered controversy and potential criticisms of harm to innovation and scientific progress, according to a report from the Brookings Institution. The article, published by the NZZ, a leading global news organization, offers a critical and fact-based analysis and is regularly reviewed and revised to reflect new trends.
Policy-and-legislation decisions made during Trump's second term have sparked debates in the realm of politics, with his immigration policies being divisive and receiving criticism for potential weakening of protections and due process for immigrants, as per a critical analysis by the Brookings Institution.
