Public Confidence in Trump’s Economic Leadership Wanes as 100-Day Mark Approaches, Poll Finds
As President Donald Trump nears his 100th day in office, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals that Americans are increasingly dissatisfied with his handling of the economy and inflation—two key issues that helped propel him to the White House.
The poll, conducted over six days and concluding on Monday, shows just 37% of respondents approve of Trump’s economic performance, a decline from 42% shortly after his January 20 inauguration. At the time, Trump had vowed to usher in a “Golden Age of America” through aggressive economic reforms. The current approval rating marks a significant drop compared to his first term, when support for his economic management typically ranged from the mid-40s to mid-50s.
“You have a president who promised a golden age,” said James Pethokoukis, a senior fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. “But everything that’s supposed to be up is down, everything that’s supposed to be down is up.” Pethokoukis added that rising economic concerns are pressuring Trump to reconsider his stance on tariffs, though he warned that even a reversal may not quickly stabilize the situation.
Economic issues have consistently topped voters’ concerns. In a Reuters/Ipsos survey taken just after Trump took office, 55% of Americans said inflation or the economy should be his top priority. Only 23% cited immigration.
Three months later, alarm over the country’s financial direction has intensified. Seventy-five percent of respondents now say they fear a recession is looming, and 56%—including one in four Republicans—believe Trump’s approach to economic policy is “too erratic.”
Investor confidence has also taken a hit, with two-thirds of respondents expressing anxiety over a volatile stock market. Share prices have slumped amid uncertainty surrounding Trump’s tariff proposals and his suggestion that he might dismiss Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, the official responsible for managing inflation.
Moreover, concerns about long-term financial security are growing. A majority—52%—of those surveyed agreed with the statement, “Trump’s actions could make it harder for me to live comfortably when I retire,” compared to just 31% who disagreed.
The data paints a picture of a public growing increasingly uneasy about the President’s economic direction, as Trump faces mounting pressure to deliver on promises that helped him win the presidency.