President Donald Trump’s approval rating has dropped significantly, according to several new polls. The numbers show a clear shift, with more Americans saying they’re unhappy with how he’s handling his job, especially on the economy.
In a new Navigator Research poll taken in early April, only 44% of people said they approve of the job Trump is doing, while 53% disapprove. That’s a net approval of -9 points. Just a month earlier, his approval was 7 points higher, and back in February, it was even better at 49% approval to 47% disapproval.
Another poll, this one from Cygnal, found similar results. In February, Trump had a small positive approval rating, but now more people disapprove (51%) than approve (47%) of his performance. Rasmussen’s daily tracking poll also showed a drop, with Trump now at 47% approval and 51% disapproval—his lowest since starting his second term.
One of the biggest reasons for this drop seems to be concern about the economy. Many voters are unhappy with Trump’s new “Liberation Day” tariff plan, which puts a 10% fee on all imports—including from U.S. allies—and raises fees even more on countries with big trade surpluses. The announcement caused a big drop in the stock market, with Wall Street seeing its worst day since 2020. Markets have since started to recover slightly.
Trump defended his decision, telling reporters, “sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something.” On Truth Social, he posted:
“Oil prices are down, interest rates are down (the slow moving Fed should cut rates!), food prices are down, there is NO INFLATION, and the long time abused USA is bringing in Billions of Dollars a week from the abusing countries on Tariffs that are already in place.”
Still, many financial experts are warning that the tariffs could hurt the economy. CNBC’s Jim Cramer said it might lead to another market crash like 1987’s “Black Monday.” Former Federal Reserve Governor Frederic Mishkin said the country could see a dangerous mix of slow growth, job losses, and rising prices.
Big banks like Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan are now saying the chances of a recession have gone up, pointing to falling consumer and business confidence.
The Navigator poll also found that only 42% approve of how Trump is handling the economy—down 14 points since February. A majority, 55%, disapprove. Most people in the poll also said they don’t like tariffs, with 58% holding a negative view.
In December 2024, just 37% of Americans said the economy was getting worse. That number has now jumped to 59%. Morning Consult’s poll also shows more people disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy and trade than approve. Another poll by Fabrizio/Journal found that 54% of Americans oppose the new tariffs, and more than half say the economy is going downhill.
At 46%, Trump’s current approval rating is lower than Joe Biden’s at the same point in his presidency. Back on April 9, 2021, Biden had a 55% approval rating and 40% disapproval.
When Trump first started his second term, Gallup found his approval rating at 47%—the lowest for any president starting a new term since 1953. Even though his current numbers are better than they were in April 2017 (when his rating was just 40%), they are still not strong.
Trump’s ratings could continue to change depending on what happens next. Big issues like the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the tariff situation, and fears of a recession could all play a role in shaping public opinion in the coming weeks.
