Trump approval ratings fall after 100 days of economic turmoil and political clashes

Trump marks 100 days of his second term with a Michigan rally amid falling public support and growing criticism of his executive overreach.

US President Donald Trump walks toward the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 27, 2025. Photo by Annabelle Gordon/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Donald Trump will return to the rally stage in Michigan on Tuesday as he marks 100 days of his second term, hoping to reenergize his base after a turbulent start that has seen his approval ratings fall and his leadership increasingly questioned. The Republican president’s approval has plummeted as his administration struggles to contain political infighting and the consequences of aggressive economic policies, particularly a sweeping round of new tariffs.

Michigan, one of the pivotal states in his November reelection victory, was also the site of one of his final campaign stops. Returning there is no accident: Trump aims to recapture the fervor of his 2024 campaign amid growing public discontent.

“The first time, I had to both run the country and survive the crooked guys around me,” Trump said in a recent interview with The Atlantic, referencing aides and cabinet members he dismissed as disloyal during his first term. “This time, I run the country and the world. I’m having a lot of fun.”

Loyalists remain, but public mood shifts

Despite the visible erosion of support, Trump still commands fierce loyalty from his base. “He knows what he’s doing,” said Karen Miner, a 57-year-old wine shop owner in Reno, Nevada. “So far, I’m very satisfied with the job he’s doing,” echoed Frank Tuoti, a retired machinist from New Hampshire.

Yet even among supporters, anxiety is creeping in. Tuoti admitted the volatility of Trump’s tariff regime left him “a little concerned about the economy.” That concern reflects broader sentiment captured by national polls.

According to a Washington Post/ABC News poll released Sunday, only 39 percent of Americans currently approve of how Trump is conducting his presidency. The number stands in stark contrast to historical trends: every president since Ronald Reagan—except Bill Clinton—enjoyed approval ratings above 50 percent at the 100-day mark. Trump, now 78 and the oldest elected U.S. president, has instead watched support decline amid political retaliation, economic shock, and overreach in presidential powers.

Economic promises and political combat

On Monday, Trump turned to his Truth Social platform to lash out at predecessor Joe Biden and tout his own performance. “The USA lost Billions of Dollars A DAY in International Trade under Sleepy Joe Biden,” he wrote. “I have now stemmed that tide, and will be making a fortune, very soon.”

The economic narrative will take center stage at a Tuesday morning press briefing, Trump’s spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed. “No one does it better than President Trump. There is no equal,” said Tom Homan, a controversial figure who now oversees a mass deportation program widely condemned by civil liberties advocates.

Since his second inauguration in January, Trump has governed with a drastically reduced inner circle, filled exclusively with loyalists. His presidency has taken a hard turn toward what critics call political vengeance. A symbolic change came when Trump ordered a portrait of Barack Obama removed from the White House’s entrance hall to make room for a dramatic painting of himself surviving an assassination attempt. The Oval Office now bears more gold decor than ever before, reflecting the president’s unapologetically lavish style.

Executive overreach sparks alarm

The president’s first 100 days have been marked by an unprecedented spree of executive orders—over 140 in total. Many of these have tested, if not outright breached, the traditional boundaries of presidential power.

Trump has questioned birthright citizenship, rolled back environmental regulations, weakened protections for universities and legal institutions, and handed sweeping bureaucratic control to billionaire tech magnate Elon Musk. The trade war he launched against global partners briefly escalated before a partial retreat, further destabilizing markets.

Federal courts have pushed back, blocking several executive orders and igniting a contentious battle between the executive and judiciary branches. Legal experts warn of constitutional risks, and public concern is rising.

In the Pew Research Center’s recent analysis, 64 percent of Americans said Trump is “going too far” in expanding presidential authority. Political analysts note that such opposition isn’t simply partisan—it reflects a deeper unease with how Trump is reshaping the office of the presidency.

Dismissive of polls, but under pressure

Unfazed, Trump has rejected unfavorable polls as “Fake News.” “We are doing GREAT, better than ever before,” he declared on Truth Social. Yet the numbers suggest otherwise, as Americans express mounting dissatisfaction over tariffs, instability, and the administration’s adversarial approach to institutions.

Although Trump continues to hold large rallies—his core political strength—the broader public picture is grimmer. Approval ratings have not rebounded, and economic indicators are mixed. Tariff policies in particular have disrupted supply chains and drawn sharp criticism from business leaders.

In addition to economic discontent, Trump’s style of governance—often described as theatrical and combative—has alienated moderates and even some longtime Republicans. His recent dismissal of Ukraine peace talks as overly complex added to concerns that the president is impatient with global diplomacy.

When asked by Time magazine about his oft-repeated claim that he could end the war in Ukraine “within 24 hours,” Trump downplayed the statement. “Obviously, people know that when I said that, it was said in jest,” he said, a rare admission of rhetorical overreach.

A presidency at a crossroads

Trump’s second-term presidency, 100 days in, has been anything but conventional. With approval ratings sliding and tensions rising domestically and internationally, the Michigan rally is more than a nostalgic campaign-style event—it’s a high-stakes opportunity to reset his public image and reassert control of the narrative.

As he stands before a crowd that still chants his name, Trump is betting that showmanship can overcome policy backlash. But the test ahead lies not just in applause, but in whether the American public is still willing to give him the benefit of the doubt in the face of economic pain and political division.

The coming weeks will determine if Trump’s confident tone can hold against the reality of his approval ratings fall—and whether his base alone is enough to sustain a presidency that has already defied norms and pushed institutional limits to their brink.