Trump’s Approval Rating Has Been Falling Steadily, Polling Average Shows

President Trump’s job approval rating has been on a downward trend during his first three months in office, as per a New York Times average of polling data.

Currently, Mr. Trump’s approval rating hovers around 45 percent, down from 52 percent shortly after assuming office. Approximately half of the country now disapproves of his performance, according to the polls.

Traditionally, American presidents experience a surge in approval upon taking office, which diminishes over time. However, Mr. Trump’s decline in approval has been slightly faster than his predecessors.

Starting his term with the second-lowest approval rating for a modern president, Mr. Trump’s initial ratings were only surpassed by his previous term in office.

The New York Times’ polling average includes nearly all publicly released surveys tracking Mr. Trump’s approval rating. The purpose of a polling average is to mitigate the biases of individual polls, which can vary in quality and frequency, and provide a clearer picture of public opinion changes over time.

The average does not delve into the specific reasons behind the approval decline, such as potential triggers like tariffs, threats to allies, or market fluctuations.

Following the implementation of global tariffs by executive order, Mr. Trump’s ratings continued to decline on average across various polls. While there was no significant drop after what Mr. Trump dubbed as “Liberation Day,” it’s still early to determine the full impact on public opinion.

In his second term, Mr. Trump has been active in reshaping the global economy, tightening immigration policies, reducing the federal government’s size, and reforming American legal and educational institutions as part of a comprehensive strategy.

Mr. Trump is delivering on many of his campaign promises, though some supporters have expressed reservations about certain actions. The widespread tariffs imposed on numerous countries have stirred discontent among allies and foes alike. The ensuing trade tensions rattled global markets until Mr. Trump temporarily halted the tariffs for 90 days for negotiations on new trade agreements.

Polls indicate minimal erosion in support among Republican voters.

The decline in approval ratings has been largely driven by independent voters, according to Quinnipiac University polls. In mid-April, 58 percent of independents disapproved of the president’s performance, a stark contrast to 41 percent approval in January.

Pollsters still face challenges in accurately gauging the depth of Mr. Trump’s support. Despite past underestimations, even polls like AtlasIntel now show net negative approval ratings.

Mr. Trump views his second term as a triumph, highlighting achievements such as a drop in illegal border crossings, increased U.S. investments, the release of imprisoned Americans abroad, and efforts to eliminate diversity initiatives in both public and private sectors.

He has also pledged forthcoming trade deals, including with China, envisioning mutual prosperity and contentment among all parties.

Irineo Cabreros contributed data analysis.