Poll Position: Where Donald Trump Stands with Americans 100 Days Into His Second Presidency

President Donald Trump is feeling pretty confident as he crosses the 100-day milestone in his second term, telling reporters, "I think we're doing really well." Not exactly one to undersell himself, Trump predicts America is on the verge of being "the strongest that we've ever been as a nation."

Since reclaiming the Oval Office, Trump’s been on a tear—issuing a flood of executive orders, rolling back old policies, and slashing the federal workforce. Some of these moves seem to be settling scores from his first go-round. But while the president’s desk might be overflowing with paperwork, the love from the public isn’t exactly pouring in.

The latest national polls are pretty clear: Trump’s approval rating is sitting at 44% according to a Fox News poll (April 18-21), with 55% disapproving. Other major polls paint a similar picture—ABC News/Washington Post (42% approval), New York Times/Siena College (42%), CNN (43%), Reuters/Ipsos (42%), Pew Research (40%), and AP/NORC (39%).

Most surveys show Trump’s numbers underwater—a noticeable drop from where he started this term. So, what’s dragging him down? The usual suspects: the economy and inflation. Trump’s recent tariff blitz kicked off a trade war, sent the markets into a tailspin, and stoked fears of a recession. In that same Fox News poll, only 38% approved of his handling of the economy, and even fewer gave him credit for tackling inflation and tariffs.

Partisan division is as sharp as ever. Almost nine out of ten Republicans are backing Trump, while 90% of Democrats are giving him the cold shoulder. Independents? Three-quarters aren’t impressed. As Daron Shaw, a Fox News Decision Team member and University of Texas professor, puts it, the GOP is now firmly in Trump’s corner—unlike the early days of his first term, when he was still winning over skeptics in his own party.

But here’s a twist: Trump’s overall approval today is nearly identical to 100 days into his first presidency (45% approval back then). So while history may be repeating itself, the numbers aren’t exactly breaking records. In fact, according to Gallup, Trump is the only president in modern history to have sub-50% average approval in his first quarter—putting him in a club of one.

Having a roaring start doesn’t guarantee a smooth ride, though. Remember Jimmy Carter? He started strong, then hit the political rocks and lost big in 1980. Joe Biden also began with decent approval (54% after 100 days) but saw his numbers tank after the Afghanistan exit and surging inflation, ultimately dropping out of the 2024 race after staying underwater for months. As Shaw summed up Biden’s presidency: "He just got crippled and never recovered." Ouch.