How Donald Trump's Approval Rating Has Sunk, in Charts
By Martha McHardy
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President Donald Trump has seen his approval rating steadily decline in his second term.
Once buoyed by a loyal base and early momentum, Trump's numbers have taken a hit in recent weeks amid dissatisfaction among voters about the state of the economy
Through a series of charts, Newsweek breaks down the numbers behind Trump's polling decline and what it could mean for his presidency.
The president began his second White House term more popular than ever. Polling by Quantus Insights from January showed that Trump's approval rating stood at 54 percent in the days following his inauguration, while 40 percent of respondents said they disapproved. Since then, the approval rating has steadily been on the decline, with 50 percent now saying they disapprove and 47 percent approving, according to a Quantus poll conducted between April 7 and April 9 among 1,000 registered voters. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
That was the first time that Trump's net approval rating dipped below water in the Quantus poll during his second term, signaling that Trump's honeymoon period could be over.
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The trend comes as Trump has struggled in the polls on the economy, once a strong topic for the president.
Trump announced his new "Liberation Day" tariffs last week, which included a sweeping 10 percent baseline tariff on all imports and harsher duties targeted at what the White House called the "worst offenders" of unfair trade practices.
The April 2 announcement immediately shook financial markets before Trump then announced a surprise 90-day pause on most reciprocal tariffs just hours after they took effect this week. The 10 percent baseline tariff remains in place, and Trump has now raised duties on Chinese imports to 125 percent after Beijing responded with an 84 percent surcharge on U.S. goods. China has now responded in kind with its own 125 percent tariffs.
How Donald Trump's Approval Rating Has Unravelled
How Donald Trump's Approval Rating Has Sunk, in Charts Newsweek illustration/ Getty Images
Despite Trump's partial pause, the tariffs have driven fears of a potential recession, which has taken a hit on the president's approval ratings.
Other polls have also shown Trump's approval rating taking a hit since April 2.
Newsweek's tracker currently shows Trump's approval rating at one of its lowest levels yet, with 45 percent approving and 50 percent disapproving, giving him a net approval of -5 points. On April 1, Trump's net approval rating was -2 points, with 47 approving and 49 percent disapproving.
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Meanwhile, according to the latest HarrisX poll, conducted between April 4 and April 7 among 1,883 registered voters, Trump's net approval rating has dropped to -2, with 47 percent approving and 49 percent disapproving. That is down from a net approval rating of +9 points in February, when 52 percent approved and 43 percent disapproved.
Similarly, YouGov/The Economist has recorded a dramatic shift from a +3 net rating in early February to -7 now. Navigator, a Democratic-aligned firm, saw a slide from -2 in March to -9, and Morning Consult recorded a smaller but still significant drop, with Trump's net approval going from -3 to -6.
At the same time, polls have shown negative sentiment around Trump's handling of the economy grow.
The latest Harris X poll revealed a sharp decline in public support for Trump's handling of the economy and inflation. On March 21, 50 percent of respondents approved of his economic management, and 48 percent backed his stance on inflation. However, recent polling shows those numbers have dropped to 44 and 43 percent, respectively.
Public sentiment about the broader economic situation has also worsened, according to the poll, with 54 percent of voters saying the economy is on the wrong track, up from 48 percent just two weeks ago, and 66 percent describing the economy as weak, an increase from 58 percent.
Economic anxiety is growing on a personal level as well, with 38 percent of voters reporting that their financial situation is worsening, compared to 31 percent at the start of the month.
There is also widespread concern about the impact of tariffs. According to the Harris X poll, 72 percent of Americans believe the new tariffs will increase the cost of goods they regularly purchase, and 71 percent expect the duties to cause a short-term recession. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
The latest YouGov/Economist poll, conducted between April 5 and April 8 among 1,563 registered voters, has similar findings. Trump's net approval on economic issues has slipped to -10, down from -4 two weeks ago. On inflation and prices, 55 percent disapprove of his handling, including 19 percent of his own 2024 voters, while only 36 percent approve, resulting in a net approval rating of -19, down from -8.
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Public skepticism about the tariffs remains high. Fifty-five percent of respondents believe the new policies will negatively impact their own financial well-being, while just 16 percent think they will help. Additionally, 53 percent say the tariffs will harm the overall U.S. economy, only 31 percent expecting any benefit.
A striking 80 percent of Americans expect the tariffs to raise consumer prices, with 47 percent predicting a significant increase and 33 percent expecting a more modest rise. This poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Meanwhile, in the latest Quantus, 45 percent said they approved of Trump's handling of the economy, down from 47 percent in March. Some 51 percent said they disapproved, up from 50 percent in March.
The poll also showed that 53 percent said the economy is on the wrong track, while 41 percent said it was on the right track. Nonetheless, voters are still optimistic about Trump's reciprocal tariffs, the poll shows, with 51 percent saying they support them and 45 percent saying the opposite.
Thomas Gift, an associate professor of political science and director of the Centre on U.S. Politics at University College London, told Newsweek that Trump's handling of the tariff situation has alienated many voters.
"Trump hasn't earned himself many supporters with his handling of the tariff situation. It's not only the policy that seems to irk voters, but also the apparent lack of strategy, the impulsive decision-making, and the inconsistent messaging from the White House. Trump has long built his brand on being a master dealmaker and a savvy businessman. However, the last several days have dealt a serious huge blow to that image," he said.
He added that while reviving his economic approval numbers isn't impossible, Trump has certainly dug himself a deep hole—and climbing out may require not just a plan, but also a fair bit of luck.
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