As President Donald Trump approaches the 50-day mark of his return to office, he asserts that America is “back.”
In an interview this weekend on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” Trump emphasized that he and his administration are operating “at a very rapid pace.”
“50 WINS IN 50 DAYS: President Trump Delivers for Americans,” the White House declared in an email release on Monday, showcasing Trump’s achievements — some deemed controversial — since his inauguration on January 20th.
However, recent national polls suggest that Americans do not share an overly optimistic view of the Trump presidency and exhibit mixed feelings about his performance thus far.
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President Donald Trump addresses Congress at the Capitol on March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Trump’s approval ratings were below average in three polls conducted by Reuters/Ipsos, UJ, and NPR/PBS/Marist leading up to the president’s address to Congress, which marked the first significant primetime speech of his second term.
However, other new polls show Trump’s approval ratings in positive territory.
Trump, who closely monitors public opinion, took to social media on Monday to boast about his “Highest Approval Ratings Since Inauguration.”
Despite Americans being divided regarding Trump’s performance, his approval ratings for his second term reflect an improvement compared to his initial tenure, when he began 2017 with negative ratings that persisted throughout his four years in the White House.
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Nonetheless, a slight decline has been noted.
Aggregated recent national polls indicate Trump’s approval ratings are marginally above water. Yet, his numbers have declined since returning to the White House in late January, when the average indicated approval ratings in the low 50s and disapproval in the mid 40s.
“Keep these numbers in perspective. The numbers he’s averaging now are still higher than at any point during his first presidency,” veteran Republican pollster Neil Newhouse mentioned to Fox News.
President Donald Trump makes an announcement in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on March 3, 2025. (Reuters/Leah Millis)
Newhouse also highlighted that Trump’s Republican base remains firmly behind him.
Daron Shaw, a political science professor at the University of Texas, underscored Trump’s strong support within the GOP.
“He didn’t have Democratic support during his first administration, and he also faced challenges from Republicans. That’s a stark difference between 2017 and 2025; the party is solidly united behind him now,” Shaw, a member of the Fox News Decision Team and Republican partner on the Fox News Poll, pointed out.
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During his first seven weeks back in the White House, Trump has been remarkably active, issuing many executive orders and directives. These actions not only fulfilled major campaign promises but also allowed him to assert control over the federal government, reducing the workforce and addressing several long-standing issues.
As of Monday, Trump had signed 89 executive orders since taking office, according to Fox News’ count, far surpassing any recent predecessor’s pace during their initial weeks.
President Donald Trump signs an executive order to withhold federal funding from schools and universities imposing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate at the White House on February 14, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Among these actions are a stringent immigration crackdown, imposing heavy tariffs on major trading allies like Canada and Mexico, and redefining foreign policy by freezing aid to Ukraine while having contentious discussions with its president in the Oval Office.
“He has inundated the field with his policies, leaving Democrats scrambling,” Newhouse stated.
Despite slight dips in approval ratings, Newhouse noted that Trump’s figures “may be slipping a bit, but those numbers certainly haven’t shifted to the Democrats.”
While his polling position is superior compared to his first term, Trump’s approval rating seven weeks into this presidency remains lower than any of his immediate predecessors.
Shaw pointed out that neither Trump nor former President Joe Biden entered office with strong approval ratings. “It’s not the honeymoon phase that is typically expected for new presidents…Historically, the opposition gives some leeway at the start, which is no longer the case,” he remarked.
President Joe Biden addresses his administration on December 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Biden’s approval ratings fluctuated in the low to mid-50s during the first six months of his single term, with disapproval ratings ranging from the upper 30s to low 40s.
However, his approval numbers plummeted into negative territory in late summer and fall 2021, following criticisms over his handling of the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and amidst rising inflation and increased migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Since then, Biden’s approval ratings have consistently been below the waterline.
“He faced overwhelming challenges and never managed to recover,” Shaw stated regarding Biden.
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There are some concerning indicators for Trump.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only one-third of Americans approved of the president’s handling of inflation.
Shaw emphasized that the ongoing issue of rising prices, which played a significant role in Trump’s return to the presidency, is critical for his political future.
“If prices stay high, he will encounter difficulties,” Shaw cautioned.
