One Year Ago
It was one year ago today that the Joe Biden presidency ended, and the second Donald Trump presidency began. That means we are a quarter of the way through Trump’s current term.
To say that things are different today than a year ago is a massive understatement…and, of course, that could cut either way. Yet few are surprised.
The Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research did some polling on how voters feel about number 47.
About 4 out of 10 Americans say they approve of his job as president. But that’s right where he was early in his first term, and where he was when he left office the first time. Bottom line is that approval ratings for Trump just don’t move.
While just 37 percent of U.S. adults approve of how Trump is handling the economy, that’s up from just 31 percent only a month ago—the low point for this president on that issue. Close to half of Americans approved of Trump’s economic approach in his first term; now that number is only half as large, with about a quarter of voters surveyed saying Trump has not made an impact on the economy.
One softening in support is on immigration. In March, 49 percent approved of the Trump approach on the topic; that’s now down to 38 percent. The poll was taken in the immediate aftermath of the first ICE shooting in Minneapolis, so that may be a factor. Note also that while half say Trump has “gone too far” when it comes to deporting illegals from the country…that number has not changed a bit since last April—so it’s not getting worse. And even Democrats give Trump more credit on immigration than any other issue, although it’s still a small amount.
The president also is a bit underwater regarding foreign policy; 6 in 10 Americans disapprove of his efforts generally, with 56 percent saying he has gone too far in use of the military in other countries—but again, no big changes in numbers over time.
Again, just one poll from a source that has not generally been complimentary to the President. But it makes the point that Trump is a unique phenomenon, and people have pretty fixed views on him and his approach. How he navigates that in the next three years will be key to watch.
