Trump Faces 60% Disapproval Amid Economic Struggles and Immigration Controversies
Sixty percent of Americans express dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump's performance, marking his lowest approval since the January 6 Capitol riots. This stark figure emerges from a recent poll conducted by Washington Post/Ipsos between February 12 and 17.
The survey indicates that 58 percent of registered voters and an alarming 60 percent of the general populace believe Trump is failing in his presidential duties. Notably, half of those surveyed “strongly” disapprove of his leadership.
Trump's grip on key issues like immigration and the economy is slipping, exacerbated by a nationwide deportation initiative and ongoing high consumer prices. Despite his attempts to downplay inflation, a significant 65 percent of Americans feel he is mishandling the situation.
Opposition to Trump's global tariff strategy remains robust, with 64 percent of respondents disapproving—a figure that has remained relatively stable since he took office. Recently, the Supreme Court ruled against significant portions of his tariff policies, further complicating his economic agenda.
Immigration remains a particularly contentious issue for Trump, with a disapproval rating of 58 percent. His administration's aggressive deployment of ICE agents has sparked violent confrontations in cities like Minneapolis, where protests have escalated following tragic incidents involving ICE agents.
Historically, Trump's immigration disapproval rating was only worse in September 2017, shortly after he ended the DACA program, which protected young immigrants from deportation.
International relations also suffer under Trump's leadership, as evidenced by a 62 percent disapproval rating regarding his management of foreign alliances. Ongoing trade disputes with Canada and tensions with NATO over Greenland contribute to this negative perception.
The Republican Party faces a challenging midterm election landscape, with unfavorable Senate maps and a Democratic edge in generic ballot polling. A wave of retirements has diminished their House majority to precarious levels, complicating efforts to maintain control in the Senate.
While recent data suggests a slight recovery in Trump's economic approval ratings, his overall unpopularity poses a significant risk for the GOP as they approach the November elections. Without substantial improvements in public perception, party members may find themselves in a precarious position come election day.
The Post/Ipsos survey gathered responses from 2,589 U.S. adults, with a margin of error of +/- two percentage points. Among registered voters, 2,087 participated, yielding a margin of error of +/- 2.2 percentage points.
