Since November, President Trump has repeatedly boasted about the “mandate” he received from the American people in November. By NPR’s count, he’s used the word more than 50 times in public appearances and on social media since Election Day.
But two months into his term, the strength of that supposed mandate is beginning to crumble.
On just about every issue, from immigration to the economy, there are more Americans who disapprove of Trump’s actions in office than approve of them, according to a new poll conducted this month from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
The disparity is by far the most stark when it comes to trade. As Trump’s April 2 deadline for imposing tariffs on most global imports looms, the poll shows that 60% of Americans disapprove of the administration’s handling of trade negotiations with other countries, compared to just 38% who approve.
The president is similarly under water when it comes to his handling of the economy (58% disapproval), the Russia-Ukraine conflict (56% disapproval), Social Security (56% disapproval), managing the federal government (55% disapproval), and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (54% disapproval). Trump’s strongest issue — his approach to immigration — is a much tighter split, with 49% of Americans approving of his performance, compared to 50% who disapprove.
Overall, the poll shows just 4 in 10 Americans approve of Trump’s job performance as president, while the majority, well, doesn’t.
These numbers, of course, tell a far different story than the one the Trump administration is telling, and it’s not hard to see why. While Trump did win decisively in November, his actions in office have frequently run counter to his campaign promises, particularly when it comes to the economy. The same person who promised to bring down prices “on Day One” is now eyeing tariffs that could raise the costs of cars, construction materials, pharmaceuticals, and more.
This weekend on Meet the Press, Trump said he “couldn’t care less” if foreign car manufacturers raise their prices “because people are going to start buying American-made cars.” His Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently put it more bluntly: “Access to cheap goods is not the essence of the American dream.”
Guess “Make America Affordable Again” was just easier to fit on a bumper sticker?
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