Donald Trump may be back in office, but if the public’s mood is any indication, it’s going to be a rough ride. According to a new ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll, conducted by Langer Research Associates with fieldwork by Ipsos, Trump now holds the lowest 100-day approval rating of any U.S. president in the last 80 years.
Just 39% of Americans approve of how Trump is handling his job, while 55% disapprove — a six-point drop since February. To put that into context: Trump is now breaking his own record for lowest early approval, after having previously set it in 2017 at 42%.
And yet — in a twist that sums up American politics circa 2025 — Trump still beats Congressional Democrats when it comes to public trust to handle the nation’s biggest problems.
See also: Trump Wanted to «Break Us»: Mark Carney Leads Liberals to Fourth Term in Canada
It’s the Economy (Again) — and It’s Bad
Perhaps the most dangerous number for Trump? Seventy-two percent of Americans believe his economic policies are likely to trigger a recession. That’s not just a bad headline — it’s a political time bomb.
The economy, which Trump once promised would roar under his leadership, is now seen by 73% of respondents as being in bad shape. More than half say it’s gotten worse since he took office. Even among non-college-educated white men — a demographic cornerstone of Trump’s support — 43% say the economy has declined.
Adding to the sting: 71% blame Trump’s tariffs for driving up prices, and only 31% buy his argument that short-term pain will lead to long-term economic gains.
See also: Putin Declares Ceasefire in Ukraine as Trump Says Zelenskyy May Relinquish Crimea
Beyond the Economy: Deepening Concerns About Democracy
The discontent doesn’t end with inflation and recession fears.
According to the poll, 65% of Americans think the Trump administration is actively trying to sidestep federal court orders, while 64% believe Trump is overreaching in expanding presidential powers.
The numbers suggest a broader unease with Trump’s view of governance. Majorities said they feared the erosion of citizens’ rights and doubted the administration’s respect for the rule of law — sentiments that echo concerns raised during his first term, but now appear even more entrenched.
See also: Trump Says Migrants Don’t Deserve Trials—And Yes, That’s as Alarming as It Sounds
A Hostile Landscape for Trump — But Democrats Are Still Struggling
If Trump’s numbers look brutal, they come with a political asterisk: the Democrats are even less trusted.
Only 30% of Americans trust Congressional Democrats to handle the nation’s challenges, compared to 37% for Trump. Even worse for the left, 69% said the Democratic Party is out of touch with ordinary people — an even higher figure than the 64% who said the same about the Republican Party.
Independents, in particular, were scathing: 76% think Democrats are out of touch, compared to 62% who said the same about Trump.
In short: dissatisfaction is widespread, but Trump isn’t facing a highly trusted opposition.
See also: Trump’s Budget Threatens LGBTQ+ Youth Hotline That’s Been Saving Lives
Court Battles and Overreach Fears: A Persistent Drag
The poll also found that most Americans are siding with federal judges over Trump when it comes to legal battles.
A 67% majority said courts should be able to block administration policies that might be illegal, and the same percentage said they believed the Trump administration is actively trying to avoid court compliance.
Concerns about presidential overreach are high: 58% worry Trump will do too much to shrink the size and role of the federal government, mirroring concerns Democrats had about Biden expanding it during his tenure.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
A Historic Low, a Divided Nation
Donald Trump has broken many political norms — and now he’s broken another, setting a new low for early presidential approval.
Yet even with soaring economic anxiety, deep concerns about democracy, and majority disapproval on almost every major issue, Trump’s political survival instincts are still very much alive — in part because the opposition remains fractured and distrusted.
If the next 100 days are anything like the first, American politics is bracing for a storm — and nobody looks ready for the fallout.
