Trump’s Approval Hits Historic Low: Economic Policies and Tariff Wars Backfire
The American political landscape is a bubble waiting to burst—and right now, Donald Trump’s approval ratings are the pin. Fresh polling data reveals the 45th president’s second-term support has cratered to levels unseen in 80 years, with his trademark economic nationalism now backfiring spectacularly. Once riding high on promises of “America First” prosperity, Trump’s approval has nosedived from 50% at inauguration to a dismal 40%, with economic discontent driving the freefall. Let’s dissect how the self-proclaimed dealmaker’s policies exploded in his face—and why voters aren’t buying the hype anymore.

The Freefall: How Low Can It Go?

Trump’s approval isn’t just dipping—it’s in freefall, with acceleration that’d make a meme stock blush. From a post-inauguration bump of 52%, his numbers have tanked to 40%, outpacing every modern president’s second-term slump. The real kicker? Independents are jumping ship. Their support cratered from 41% to 36% in just four months, while opposition spiked to 58%. Even his “ride-or-die” base is wobbling: “strong” supporters dropped from 37% to 31%, and politically disengaged Americans—once a quiet backup chorus—slashed support from 44% to 31%.
This isn’t just a bad week on Twitter. The intensity of disapproval is the real grenade: 48% now *strongly* disapprove of Trump, up from 40%. For context, that’s worse than Biden’s “inflation era” lows—and way uglier than Obama’s “tan suit” faux-pas years. The takeaway? Voters aren’t just skeptical; they’re *mad*.

Economic Policies: From “Art of the Deal” to “Art of the Fail”

Trump bet his legacy on the economy. Now, it’s blowing up his approval.
1. Tariffs: The Self-Inflicted Trade War 2.0
In April 2025, Trump dropped a policy bomb: global “reciprocal tariffs.” Cue the market panic. A staggering 59% of Americans opposed the move, with partisan splits so sharp they’d make a guillotine jealous—70% of Republicans cheered while 90% of Democrats screamed. Nearly half (49%) warned it’d hammer workers, spike inflation, and trash the economy. And guess what? They were right.
The Dow Jones threw a tantrum, logging its worst drop since 2020. Tourism—a $1.3 trillion industry—imploded, with visitor arrivals plunging 12%. Ford prepped price hikes, and farmers (once Trump’s loudest allies) started side-eyeing Democrats. Even Wall Street, usually high on tax cuts, is sweating; two-thirds of investors now fear a prolonged slump.
2. Inflation: The Unwelcome Comeback Tour
Remember 2024’s inflation nightmares? Trump’s policies are bringing them back—like a bad sequel. Economists warn his tariff blitz could reignite price surges, and voters are *not* here for it. A whopping 54% believe the economy’s worsening (up from 37% in January), while 49% expect more pain ahead.
3. The Fed Feud: Poking the Bear
Trump’s public bullying of Fed Chair Powell isn’t just unprofessional—it’s destabilizing. By hinting at Powell’s firing and trashing rate policies, he’s turned monetary policy into a reality show. Markets hate uncertainty, and this administration is a factory of chaos.

Protests, Backlash, and the GOP’s Looming Disaster

This isn’t just about polls—it’s about real-world revolt. April saw mass protests in NYC and D.C. against Trump’s hardline policies, from immigration crackdowns to federal job slashes. Even red-state industries (looking at you, Iowa soybeans) are grumbling.
Historically, second-term presidents enjoy a grace period. Not Trump. His 45% average approval is the worst since WWII, trailing even Biden’s mid-inflation numbers. And with the 2026 midterms approaching, Republicans are sweating bullets. If this slide continues, the GOP could lose Congress—and Democrats are already weaponizing the economy as their attack ad centerpiece.

Conclusion: A Bubble Popped by Its Own Hype

Trump’s presidency was built on economic bravado—”deals” and “wins” shouted over reality. But now, the numbers don’t lie: tariffs backfired, inflation looms, and voters feel duped. His base isn’t *gone*, but it’s fraying, and independents are bolting for the exits.
Can he recover? Maybe—if he pivots from trade wars to actual growth. But Trump doesn’t pivot. He doubles down. And that’s why this bubble didn’t just deflate… it *detonated*.
Boom.