President Trump’s approval rating has taken a significant hit, with more voters expressing deep concerns about the state of the economy, according to a new poll released Tuesday.
The Emerson College Polling survey, conducted just after the first 50 days of Trump’s second term, shows a sharp drop in his approval. Only 47 percent of voters now approve of his job performance, while 45 percent disapprove. This is a noticeable decline from the 49 percent approval and 41 percent disapproval ratings at the start of his second term.
A key factor behind this drop is Trump’s handling of the economy. The poll revealed that nearly half of voters—48 percent—disapprove of his economic policies, while only 37 percent approve.
“Despite not yet delivering on the economy in voters’ minds, Trump’s support remains strong,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. “However, the real test will be how voters feel about their financial future. The early days of his second term are showing that the ‘honeymoon phase’ may be over.”
Trump’s performance on the economy is dragging his approval down, while his handling of immigration remains his strongest area, with 48 percent approval. But when it comes to the economy, healthcare, and cryptocurrency, his ratings are deeply negative.
The poll’s findings come as the stock market continues to struggle, largely due to Trump’s shifting tariff policies with Canada, Mexico, and China. The Dow Jones dropped sharply—890 points—on Monday, following Trump’s avoidance of commenting on whether a recession is looming.
Trump has repeatedly stated that his tariff policies will lead to a “period of transition,” but insists that they are necessary to ensure the U.S. is treated fairly by other countries.
“It takes a little time. But I think it should be great for us,” Trump told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo.
Voters, however, are increasingly skeptical about the long-term impact. The poll shows that 53 percent believe the tariffs will harm economic growth. More than 45 percent of respondents think Trump’s policies are making the economy worse, while only 28 percent feel they’re improving it. The remaining 26 percent think it’s too early to tell.
The overall sentiment toward Trump’s second term remains divided. While 51 percent of voters believe it has been more successful than not, 49 percent see it as more of a failure. Nearly 40 percent say Trump is performing better than they expected, 36 percent think he’s doing worse, and 25 percent feel he’s meeting expectations.
The poll, which surveyed 1,000 registered voters from March 8-10, has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
