U.S. President Donald Trump’s approval rating has seen a slight decline in recent days as concerns about the U.S. economy rise. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, more Americans are worried about the country’s economic direction, especially as the president continues to threaten multiple nations with tariffs.
The six-day poll, which concluded on Tuesday, found that 44% of respondents approved of Trump’s performance as president. This represents a slight drop from the 45% approval rating recorded in a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted from January 24-26. His approval was slightly higher at 47% in a separate poll conducted on January 20-21, just as he returned to the White House.
Meanwhile, disapproval of Trump’s presidency has increased more significantly. The latest poll found that 51% of Americans disapproved of his job performance, a notable jump from 41% in the immediate aftermath of his return to office.
Despite the overall decline in approval, Trump continues to receive considerable support for his immigration policies. The poll found that 47% of respondents approved of his stance on immigration, which includes promises to intensify deportations of undocumented migrants. This level of support has remained relatively unchanged since January.
However, economic concerns among the public appear to be growing. The percentage of Americans who believe the economy is headed in the wrong direction increased to 53% in the latest poll, up from 43% in the January 24-26 survey. Additionally, public confidence in Trump’s handling of the economy has dropped. His approval rating for economic management fell from 43% in the previous poll to 39% in the most recent one.
Economic performance has been a cornerstone of Trump’s political appeal, with many voters believing that his policies would benefit the economy. His current approval rating on economic matters is still higher than the final rating of his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, who left office with just 34% approval on economic issues. However, Trump’s standing on this front has weakened compared to earlier in his presidency. In February 2017, during the first full month of his first term, Reuters/Ipsos polling showed him with a 53% approval rating on the economy.
Inflation remains a particularly troubling issue for Trump. In the latest survey, only 32% of respondents approved of his handling of inflation, signaling potential early disappointment in his economic policies. This follows several years of rising prices, which contributed to Biden’s struggles in the last presidential election. Trump won that election by securing a victory in the Electoral College while also narrowly winning the popular vote against Biden’s vice president, Kamala Harris.
Recent data from the U.S. Labor Department highlights ongoing economic challenges, as consumer prices in January rose at their fastest rate in nearly a year and a half. Americans are facing higher costs for various goods and services, and additional economic reports suggest that U.S. households anticipate inflation to increase further. These concerns have been exacerbated by Trump’s February 1 announcement of steep tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada.
Although tariffs on Mexico and Canada have been postponed until March, Trump has set March 12 as the start date for other duties on imported steel and aluminum. He has also instructed his administration to design a system of global reciprocal tariffs.
The poll reveals that the majority of Americans are not in favor of new tariffs on imported goods. Fifty-four percent of respondents opposed such measures, while 41% expressed support. However, the public appears to be more divided on tariffs specifically targeting Chinese imports. In this case, 49% of respondents were in favor, while 47% were opposed.
Conducted online, the Reuters/Ipsos poll surveyed 4,145 U.S. adults across the country. The survey has a margin of error of approximately two percentage points in either direction