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Trump’s Rising Challenges: Polls Reflect Eroding Support
Recent polling data indicates that former President Donald Trump is experiencing a decline in favorability among the American public. As key issues such as economic stability and government policy gain prominence, many citizens express discontent with his administration’s decisions.
Two new polls, one by CNN/SSRS and another by The Washington Post/Ipsos, reveal that Trump’s approval ratings have dipped below the 50% mark. The CNN poll reported an approval rating of 47%, compared to a disapproval of 52%. Similarly, the Post survey showed a 45% approval, against 53% disapproval. This marks a significant departure from earlier this year, when Trump’s approval ratings were more evenly divided, with some surveys even reflecting a favorable view.
Key to this shift appears to be a growing sentiment among Americans that Trump has exceeded his presidential authority, particularly in his attempts to modify the federal government’s operations, reportedly influenced by tech mogul Elon Musk. Measures such as a dramatic freeze of federal spending have met with legal challenges, yet the administration has proceeded with significant layoffs of federal employees and various executive orders that have drawn backlash.
The polling data underscores the unpopularity of these actions among respondents. The Washington Post survey found that a striking 58% of participants opposed large-scale layoffs of federal workers. Additionally, opinions on Elon Musk’s involvement in the administration are not favorable, with only 34% of respondents in the Post poll approving of his role, compared to 54% in the CNN poll who felt it was detrimental to Trump’s presidency.
Furthermore, a glaring concern among the electorate is Trump’s handling of inflation and rising prices. The CNN poll indicates that 62% of respondents believe he has not adequately addressed these pressing economic issues, including 47% of Republican voters voicing similar concerns.
Trump’s signature issue of tariffs also faces skepticism; in the Post survey, 69% of respondents opined that tariffs placed on key trading partners such as Canada, Mexico, and China would only serve to elevate costs for American consumers.
At the time of reporting, the White House had not provided a comment regarding the latest polling findings.
Despite the challenging landscape, there are indicators of resilience for Trump. His support remains slightly above levels recorded during his first term, when he took office despite losing the popular vote. Moreover, his immigration policies have garnered comparatively higher approval ratings than his strategies concerning economic issues and federal downsizing.
Interestingly, Trump’s discontent is not solely his burden; an overwhelming majority of nearly 75% of Democrats and those leaning Democratic expressed dissatisfaction with their party’s congressional response to the GOP leadership.
The CNN/SSRS poll, conducted with a sample size of 1,206 U.S. adults from February 13 to 17, carries a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points. The Washington Post/Ipsos poll surveyed 2,601 adults between February 13 and 18, with a margin of error of 2.1 points.
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