Analysis of the new PBS News/NPR/Marist poll reveals a dissatisfaction setting in among Americans with Trump at the helm. With a staggering 45% of American adults ranking Trump’s re-entry into the Oval office with a failing ‘F’ grade, it is clear that his leadership is not being taken favourably. Not surprisingly, this sentiment resonates with 80% of Democrats, but importantly also with 49% of Independents. Only a meager 23% of Americans, primarily rabid Republicans, dare to accord him an ‘A’.
The Trump impact hasn’t been kind. More than half the adults claim a negative effect on their lives due to Trump’s hasty and brusque changes. Lee Miringoff, the director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, notes the distinct lack of independent support for Trump, serving as a warning to Congressional members planning to face voter wrath in midterm elections.
The sentiment was notably different during Trump’s initial 100 days, where his performance ranked evenly across the board with grades from A to D. The more diverse mixture of opinions amongst independents, with only about 30% failing him then, underscores the downfall in his approval ratings.
One Vermont resident, Daniel Nowokunski, who, regretfully, voted Independent in the 2024 election for Kamala Harris, echoes the waning public sentiment towards Trump. His criticism centers around significant government inefficiencies such as bureaucratic quicksand while seeking Social Security answers. Despite his disappointment in Trump’s performance, he holds onto an unjustified shred of hope that Trump might come through on ‘just one’ of his promises.
The belief that Trump is steering the nation towards ruin is maintained by 51% of US adults. Notably, among those earning less than $50,000 per annum, half believe that the country is faring worse under Trump’s leadership. Meanwhile, 49% have claimed that Trump’s ill-conceived policies have cast a shadow over their lives, with just 32% reporting a positive impact.
Approximately 60% of Americans agree that Trump’s frenzied governance, lacking in foresight or caution, fuels concerns. This, substantiated by his declining approval numbers, paints a bleak picture for the incumbent leader who, just a month ago, was amusingly in the midst of a political honeymoon. With a 53% disapproval rating, Trump’s stronghold of public sentiment appears to be slipping.
An analysis of Trump’s economic handling fares no better with only 39% approval against a whopping 55% disapproval. This flailing approval languishes dangerously compared to the steady grace experienced by Trump’s economic ratings in 2019 and 2020.
Fueling the public’s anxieties further is the burgeoning prospect of increasing grocery prices under Trump’s tenure. Around 64% of Independents and a significant 89% of Democrats perceive a forthcoming rise in food costs. The Republican reaction, as scattered as one might expect, showcases mixed feelings within Trump’s own base.
Notably, Daniel Nowokunski, a small-town inhabitant and a victim of crippling new-age expenses, bears brutal witness to this economic shock. With seemingly mundane items costing an arm and a leg, the steep inflation curve continues to take a toll on Americans under Trump’s lackadaisical economic policies.
A profound distrust in the Trump regime’s tariff antics holds among Americans, with 57% of them considering the tariffs to be detrimental to the US economy. Mark Knapchuck Jr., an independent voter from Michigan, reveals his pinch from inflated prices attributable to Trump’s exorbitant tariff policies. Even ardent Trump supporters, forming 56% of his tariff backings, can’t obscure the raw fact of average Americans bearing the brunt of these reckless economic moves.
Paradoxically, Trump’s stance on immigration has been more palatable to a few more voters, with about 44% Americans mildly approving of his stance. However, the immigrant policies have not done enough to retain the wavering loyalties of voters sitting on the fence, who had supported Trump in the November 2024 elections.
Interestingly, about half of the American population claims that their purchasing decisions have been influenced by Trump’s arbitrary tariff impositions, either hurrying their purchases, or putting them on hold. Around 85% of Americans, inclusive of 79% Republicans and 84% independent voters, firmly believe that the President’s obedience to federal rulings is non-negotiable.
A further point of note is the sinking popularity of Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency operating under the Trump banner. Musk’s unfavorability rating has dropped to 37%, closely mirroring the department’s approval rating of an uninspiring 36%.