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How are the escalating trade war and notable declines in the U.S. stock market impacting presidential approval ratings?
As part of a historic global trade war, President Donald Trump announced tariffs of at least 10% on ‘all’ countries, with higher rates for certain nations or trading blocs on Wednesday. China was significantly affected with a total tariff of 54%, to which they responded with retaliatory 34% tariffs on U.S. goods.
Trump’s approval ratings remained relatively stable in the first two months despite the administration’s tumultuous start, even reaching an all-time high for either of his terms. However, recent trends indicate a shift in public sentiment, with approval ratings showing signs of decline.
The latest Harvard CAPS/Harris poll reveals that 49% of registered voters approve of Trump’s performance, a decrease from 52% the previous month in the same poll. Even with this drop, he still maintains a higher favorability compared to the 46% who disapprove.
This poll also found that 54% of voters believe Trump is performing better than his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, albeit down from 58% last month.
According to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, 42% approve of Trump’s job performance, down from 45% just a couple of weeks ago. His overall rating remains higher than during his first term and above Biden’s ratings for most of his administration.
When surveyed about the nation’s direction, only 22% of respondents felt things were on the right track, while 61% believed the nation was headed in the wrong direction. When it comes to the economy and political landscape, opinions seemed more divided — with 30% feeling positively, 53% negatively, and 17% uncertain. Employment and inflation showed similar sentiments.
Trump’s immigration policy continues to receive relatively positive feedback with a 48% approval rating, compared to 44% disapproval. Concerns regarding his handling of Russia showed 48% disapproval, while 46% disapproved of his approach to Ukraine, with many expressing uncertainty.
Regarding tariffs, a poll question asked, “In general, when the U.S. implements tariffs on imported goods, American workers benefit.” The results showed that 45% disagreed, while 31% agreed, and 14% were uncertain.
Vice President JD Vance’s favorability stands at 41% favorable versus 49% unfavorable, while special government agent Elon Musk has a 39% favorable rating compared to 57% unfavorable.
Here’s the latest on Trump’s presidential approval ratings.
What is Trump’s current presidential approval rating?
The Economist/YouGov poll indicates Trump’s favorability at 48% versus 49% unfavorable. Vice President JD Vance shows a 43% favorability against 46% unfavorable, and House Speaker Mike Johnson polls at 30% favorability versus 37% unfavorable.
This poll also assessed approval ratings for prominent Democrats like Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who received a mere 24% favorability compared to a striking 50% unfavorable rating.
Among those surveyed, a significant majority prioritized inflation and cost of living, followed by jobs and the economy, with healthcare ranking after other issues.
The national NBC News poll shows Trump’s approval rating at 47% with more registered voters believing the U.S. is heading in the right direction than at any time since early 2004. However, most Americans still view the country as being on the wrong track, with a higher 51% disapproving of his presidential performance as of now, according to their report.
The poll indicates that despite slightly higher disapproval ratings for Trump’s overall performance, the gap is tighter than in any previous phase of his first term. Other significant findings include a rising number of Republicans aligning with MAGA, more Americans supporting his deportation-focused immigration strategies, and a general approval of the Department of Government Efficiency and Trump’s attempts to reduce government jobs and spending.
One notable poll outcome revealed that voters are nearly evenly divided regarding the 2026 midterm elections as a fragmented Democratic party, facing historically low approval, struggles to respond to Trump. This low approval is exemplified by just 27% of registered voters viewing the Democratic party positively, which includes only 59% of self-identified Democrats.
RealClear Polling, summarizing 13 different pollsters, shows Trump’s overall favorability sitting at 47.6% against 49.8% disapproving as of today.
Note: Polling data is continually evolving, with variations occurring across different pollsters and populations. These statistics reflect the situation as of Friday, April 4, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
