Trump's Slip in Popularity as Support Wanes Among His Base
A Shift in Opinion About President Trump
Trump's Backing Wanes - Even Among His Allies
Laura Stresing | Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | E-Mail | Print | Copy Link
The popularity of U.S. President Donald Trump has taken a nosedive, according to recent polls. A growing number of Americans have expressed dissatisfaction with his leadership, particularly in regards to economic and fiscal policies emanating from the White House.
Trump ascended into office with barely three months under his belt, and already it's evident that the U.S. is evolving under his leadership. In the Ukraine conflict, Trump consistently sides with Putin, disregarding European allies under attack. He speaks about neighboring Canada as if it's U.S. territory and entertains declaring Greenland a part of the U.S. This has raised doubts within the European Union and NATO alliance regarding the U.S.'s reliability as a friend and partner.
A Fractured Image at Home and Abroad
At home, uncertainty is becoming the status quo, given erratic fiscal and economic policies emanating from the White House. Initial approval ratings for Trump hovered over 50%, but that gap has since narrowed, with opponents closing in on the support base.
The poll data averaged by RealClearPolitics suggests that, by early March, Trump had already lost the favor of half the electorate. The values presented represent a range of polls conducted by various organizations, albeit with inconsistent methodologies. This makes it challenging to draw definite conclusions about public opinion trends. However, one factor remains clear – Trump's approval ratings have been steadily declining since the beginning of his term.
Deterred by Initial Actions
Even among his supporters, many have been deterred by Trump's first actions. The shift in opinion is most pronounced in the second half of February, with no single reason serving as a trigger. At this time, concerns about Trump's trade threats, potential price hikes, and unpopular policy decisions played a significant role in the polls.
CNN and the "Washington Post" conducted polls in February that highlighted the growing criticism of Trump's authoritarian administration style and a "Doge" working group organized by Elon Musk. From day one, Trump has been restructuring the government, cutting budgets, and disregarding existing laws, democratic norms, and court rulings. The administration has argued that the president's power should not be limited.
Unfulfilled Campaign Promises, Economic Concerns
In terms of policy areas regularly surveyed in polls, disapproval consistently outweighs approval in economic, foreign policy, and Middle East policy. Voters are most concerned about how Trump is handling his central campaign promise – inflation.
In a CNN poll, 62% of respondents stated that Trump is not doing enough to lower living costs. Even among Republicans, dissatisfaction with this issue is relatively high. This sentiment is reflected in a Reuters poll from February, which attributed falling approval ratings primarily to concerns about rising prices due to Trump's economic policy.
Trump's tariff policies have caused confusion and unease, with the stock market carefully watching the U.S. government's economic shifts. Many experts predict a recession for the U.S. The U.S.'s trade deficit reached a record high in January as companies prepared for high tariffs.
A Marred Image of a "Dealmaker"
Trump regularly refers to himself as a skilled businessman and a "dealmaker," but even among Republicans, economic unease is prevalent. The conservative "Daily Mail" termed Trump's trade policy as a potential disaster for his presidency, with respondents citing it as the "biggest failure" since he took office.
However, a majority of respondents (72%) give Trump more time to rectify the economy, with many willing to wait a year for recovery. Yet, overall, polls suggest that patience is waning much earlier, and there's scant evidence that Trump can reverse the negative sentiment any time soon.
Sources: ntv.de, CNN, Washington Post, Reuters, Daily Mail
- Donald Trump
- Trade conflicts
- Polls
- Government Policies
- Economy
- Inflation
- "Doge" working group
- Despite initial high approval ratings, Trump's policy decisions, particularly those related to the economy and trade conflicts, have led to a significant decline in his approval ratings, according to polls by RealClearPolitics and CNN.
- The ongoing uncertainty and potential for layoffs due to unpopular economic policies, such as tariffs, have caused concern among both the American public and his base, dimming Trump's image as a skilled businessman (a "dealmaker").
- As the European Union and NATO express doubts about the United States' reliability as a friend and partner, questions about the effectiveness of Trump's employment and community policy, as well as his leadership style, become increasingly relevant in the realm of foreign policy.
