Trump's Triumphs and Troubles: Tax Cuts Pass, but Polls Show Economic Woes Persist

Four months into his second term, President Donald Trump is basking in a legislative triumph, with the House passing his ambitious tax and spending cuts package, dubbed "The One, Big, Beautiful Bill." The razor-thin victory delivers on campaign promises, slashing taxes, bolstering defense, tightening immigration, and tackling the debt ceiling. Yet, the celebration is tempered by polls showing Trump’s approval ratings underwater. A Marquette Law School survey pegs him at 46% approval, 54% disapproval, while Reuters/Ipsos reports 42% approval, 52% disapproval. A Gallup poll echoes this, with 43% approval and 53% disapproval.

Trump’s aggressive executive actions, including sweeping workforce cuts and policy reversals, have stirred controversy. While he started strong post-inauguration, his numbers have since dipped. On border security and immigration, however, he holds steady, with Marquette showing 56% and 50% approval, respectively. But these wins haven’t lifted his overall standing, as economic concerns—especially inflation—drag him down. His April tariff announcement sparked a trade war, rattled markets, and fueled recession fears, though a U.S.-China truce has calmed nerves. Still, polls show dismal approval on tariffs (37%) and cost of living (33-34%).

Daron Shaw, a politics professor, notes immigration is fading as a top issue, with the economy now dominating public concern. Doug Heye, a GOP strategist, points out that Trump’s 2024 victory hinged on promises to lower prices, yet costs remain stubbornly high. For Trump to claim economic victory, prices must drop—voters aren’t impressed by merely taming inflation.