Trump Faces Disastrous Poll Results After a Century of Leadership
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Donald Trump begins his second term with dismal approval ratings
The U.S. President's first 100 days in office have been anything but smooth sailing. According to several polls by notable media outlets, Trump's approval ratings are underwhelming, reaching a troubling low in comparison to past presidents.
A poll by ABC and The Washington Post shows only 39% of respondents approve of Trump's performance, while 55% disapprove. CNN's poll places his approval rating slightly higher at 41%, but still leaves a significant 59% disapproving of the president. Both ABC and CNN reported that these numbers represent the poorest showing for a U.S. president since the 100-day mark in several decades.
Trump takes aim at the negative polls
Moreover, a New York Times poll registered similar findings - 42% approve of Trump's presidential performance, while 54% disapprove. These regular surveys gauge citizen sentiment towards the president's job performance.
Unfazed by the negative feedback, Trump lashed out against the polls, accusing them of being biased and "fake" on his social media platform, Truth Social. He alleged that the media outlets delving into these polls are "sick" and are responsible for writing primarily unfavorable articles on him. Ironically, Trump himself had earlier been indicted for election fraud in connection to his attempts to overturn the result of the 2020 election against Democrat Joe Biden. However, any trial was thwarted once Trump emerged victorious in the 2024 presidential election.
Interesting Insights
During Trump's previous tenure (2017), his early approval rating came in at a record-low 42% for a new president according to Gallup. This was significantly lower than that of predecessors such as Barack Obama (67% in 2009) and George W. Bush (58% in 2001). In his second term, Trump's 2025 approval stands at 39–40%, reaching the lowest 100-day rating in 80 years. The reason behind Trump's declining support can be attributed to a range of factors including backlash against his tariff increases, economic pessimism, and growing partisan divisions.
Distinguishing Features of Trump's Presidency
In comparison to past presidents, like Biden (56% in April 2021) and Reagan (67% in 1981), who enjoyed stronger early support, Trump's presidency is characterized by a reliance on executive orders and a focus on polarizing issues such as immigration, rather than prioritizing bipartisan outreach.
- Despite facing dismal approval ratings in his second term, President Trump has criticized the negative polls, labeling them as biased and "fake" on his social media platform.
- The ABC and The Washington Post poll, along with CNN's poll, have shown that Trump's approval rating, at 39% and 41% respectively, is the poorest showing for a U.S. president since the 100-day mark in several decades.
- The New York Times poll also registered similar findings, with 42% approving of Trump's performance, and 54% disapproving.
- In contrast to past presidents like Obama and Bush, who had higher approval ratings in their first 100 days, Trump's presidency is marked by a focus on executive orders, polarizing issues such as immigration, and a reliance on policy-and-legislation-related general news to drive his administration.
