As President Donald Trump approaches his 100th day in office, a new CNN poll reveals a sharp decline in public approval, marking the lowest rating for any newly elected president at this stage since Dwight Eisenhower. Trump’s approval rating now stands at 41%, a drop of 4 points since March and a significant fall from his early days in office.
Among the American public, just 22% strongly approve of his leadership, the lowest such figure recorded during his tenure, while 45% express strong disapproval. Trump has seen approval fall particularly among women and Hispanic Americans, with ratings dropping by 7 points in both groups to 36% and 28%, respectively.
The poll shows a stark divide along partisan lines, with 86% of Republicans approving of the job Trump is doing, while 93% of Democrats disapprove. Independents, however, show significant disillusionment, with only 31% approving, a sharp decline from earlier in his presidency.
Trump’s handling of the federal government has also seen a decrease in approval, with only 42% now satisfied with his approach to managing the workforce, down 6 points from March. His confidence in appointing qualified officials has also dropped, with only 46% expressing faith in his ability to select the best candidates, an 8-point decrease since December.
Public concern over Trump’s disregard for government norms has grown. Derek Steinmetz, a Democrat from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, expressed concern about Trump’s undermining of established governmental structures, stating that his actions were “much worse this time around.”
Trump’s foreign policy, particularly his approach to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and his decision to end many foreign aid programs, has drawn significant criticism. The poll finds that 60% of Americans disapprove of his foreign affairs handling, while his approval rating in this area has dropped to 39%.
On immigration, Trump has seen a drop in approval, with only 45% of Americans now expressing approval, down from 51% in March. Similarly, confidence in his ability to manage the issue has decreased to 53%, down from 60% in December.
However, Trump has received a modestly positive response on gender identity issues, with 51% of Americans approving of his handling of matters related to gender and transgender rights. Despite this, his efforts to shape U.S. culture and history have been far less popular, with 64% of Americans considering his actions, such as his control over the Kennedy Center and changes to Smithsonian exhibits, inappropriate.
Vice President JD Vance, a close ally of Trump, mirrors the president’s low approval rating, with 58% of respondents disapproving of his performance. Both Trump and Vance have struggled to garner favorable opinions from the public, with only 40% expressing a positive view of the president and 34% holding a favorable opinion of Vance.
Public confidence in Trump’s ability to use presidential power responsibly has also waned, with just 46% of Americans expressing confidence in his decision-making, a drop of 8 points from December. Critics, like George Mastrodonato, a Trump voter, expressed frustration with Trump’s reliance on executive orders, arguing that many are ineffective and prone to court challenges.
As Trump’s second term progresses, Americans remain divided over whether his presidency will bring lasting change. While 52% believe his actions will fundamentally alter the country, only 12% think his second term will have no lasting impact. Opinions are also split on whether Trump has kept his campaign promises, with nearly half of Americans (48%) saying he’s doing a good job, though a slight majority (51%) disagrees.
Despite the public’s mixed views, Trump’s supporters continue to back him, with many, like Mastrodonato, feeling that he’s delivering on his promises, even if his methods differ from their preferences.
The CNN poll, conducted by SSRS from April 17-24 with 1,678 adult participants, has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
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