Donald Trump’s Approval Rating Collapses

Donald Trump’s second term is unraveling in real time — and the American public is sounding the alarm. A wave of new polling data reveals a dramatic collapse in the former president’s approval rating, with the economy at the center of voter discontent and fears of another recession mounting by the day.

According to the latest numbers from Navigator Research, just 44% of Americans approve of Trump’s job performance, while 53% disapprove — a devastating net rating of -9 points. That’s an 11-point plunge from early February. Other polls echo the same trend: Cygnal, Rasmussen, and even Trump-friendly outlets show the president underwater with voters.

“The country is not buying what Trump is selling anymore — especially when it comes to the economy,” said Democratic strategist Maria Cardona. “He promised strength, but all we’re getting is instability.”

And the numbers prove her right. Across nearly every major survey, Trump’s economic credibility is eroding fast:

• Navigator: 55% disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy
• Morning Consult: Trump’s economic disapproval hits 48%
• Fabrizio/WSJ: 54% of Americans reject Trump’s tariffs

The breaking point may have been Trump’s announcement of sweeping new import duties, dubbed the “Liberation Day Tariffs” — a 10% blanket tariff on all goods, including imports from U.S. allies. The move sent markets into a tailspin. Wall Street had its worst day since the early COVID era. Economic giants like Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan immediately raised the odds of a recession.

“It’s reckless and it’s dangerous,” said former Fed governor Frederic Mishkin. “We could be staring down the barrel of stagflation — slow growth, high unemployment, and rising prices — all because of political theatrics.”

Even CNBC’s Jim Cramer, not known for hyperbole, warned that the country could see a repeat of 1987’s ‘Black Monday’ market crash.

But Trump is brushing off the criticism. In a post on his platform Truth Social, the president wrote: “There is NO INFLATION. Oil is down, interest rates are down, and the USA is making billions from abusing countries. The tariffs are working!”

Analysts say that kind of defiance only underscores how out of touch Trump is with average Americans, many of whom are feeling the squeeze at the grocery store, gas pump, and on their credit card bills.

A Slide with Serious Consequences

With the 2026 midterms on the horizon, Trump’s sinking numbers pose a threat not just to his presidency but to the entire Republican Party. Lawmakers up for re-election are quietly panicking, especially in battleground states.

“This is the kind of polling that makes Republicans start looking for exits,” said pollster Fernand Amandi. “They remember what happened in 2018 when Trump cost them the House. They’re not eager for a repeat.”

Trump’s approval now lags behind Joe Biden’s at the same point in his first term. On April 9, 2021, Biden enjoyed a 55% approval rating. Trump, despite a honeymoon-like bump after reentering the White House, started his second term at just 47%, per Gallup — the lowest for any president beginning a term since at least 1953.

For perspective, that number is worse than George W. Bush post-Katrina and Nixon in the early Watergate days.

Public Sentiment Is Turning

Perhaps most troubling for Trump? Americans believe the economy is actively getting worse. In December, only 37% held that view. Now, a staggering 59% say the country’s economic situation is deteriorating.

And Trump’s signature issue — trade — is no longer his trump card. A majority of voters now oppose the tariffs he once touted as the cornerstone of his “America First” agenda. The backlash isn’t just political — it’s personal for voters watching their costs rise.

What Comes Next

Trump’s approval could continue to slide as key global and domestic crises unfold. Ongoing negotiations in the Russia-Ukraine war, growing fears of stagflation, and chaos in the markets will test his already thinning political capital.

“He’s got the nuclear codes, but no credibility,” said former Obama adviser David Axelrod. “And voters are starting to realize that’s a dangerous combination.”

As his numbers tumble, Trump may double down on defiance — but the cracks in his presidency are growing deeper by the week. And for Democrats, that may just be the opening they’ve been waiting for.