New Trump Approval Rating Shocks Dems

President Trump’s approval rating has started to rebound after hitting a low point earlier this month, marking a modest turnaround following a period of consistent decline. According to the Decision Desk HQ/The Hill polling average, Trump’s approval reached 47.1 percent over the weekend, its highest in two months, before settling slightly lower at 46.7 percent as of Wednesday. Even with the dip, it’s still about three points above where it stood earlier in the month an encouraging sign for the president after his rough start to the second term.

The bounce comes after concerns had mounted over the administration’s shifting tariff policies, which rattled markets and led to significant public uncertainty. During the first month and a half of his return to the White House, Trump enjoyed relatively strong approval numbers something he hadn’t experienced during the same timeframe in his first term. But things cooled quickly, and by late April, his disapproval hit 53.4 percent. Just over a week later, his approval rating reached its lowest point since his re-election.

Scott Tranter, data science director at Decision Desk HQ, noted that the uptick might not be dramatic in statistical terms, but what stands out is that Trump’s approval rating hasn’t continued to fall. In a political environment as polarized as this one, even minor fluctuations can be meaningful.

At the same time, other indicators have shown improvement. Trump’s favorability rating has inched up, and more Americans now say they feel the country is on the right track. One possible reason for the shift, according to analysts, is Trump’s decision to pause some of the more aggressive tariff plans. While these tariffs initially drew widespread criticism and caused confusion about potential economic fallout, the worst-case scenarios have yet to materialize, easing public concern.

The latest inflation data from the Commerce Department showed that prices cooled in April, which may have helped calm fears. Some economists suggest that the repeated pauses in tariff implementation have delayed any inflationary effects, buying time for public sentiment to stabilize.

Trump’s pattern of announcing harsh trade penalties only to delay or reverse them later has drawn criticism for unpredictability, but it may also be cushioning the impact on his approval. His most recent move pushed back the deadline for a 50 percent tariff on EU goods, giving negotiators more time to strike a deal.

Republicans believe that sealing favorable trade agreements could further improve Trump’s numbers. GOP strategist Mehek Cooke said Trump’s approval boost reflects both policy wins and public backlash against what she described as “judicial activists” trying to derail his agenda. As federal courts have blocked some of his executive orders including those related to tariffs and immigration Cooke argued that the public is rallying around Trump in response.

Matthew Bartlett, a former State Department official under Trump, noted that the president’s unconventional policies, such as tariffs, don’t align neatly with traditional Republican ideology but have cross-party appeal especially among working-class voters. Bartlett added that Democrats are struggling to develop a unified counter-narrative, in part because labor unions support some of Trump’s trade measures.

Despite the recent gains, analysts like Tranter and Bartlett believe Trump’s approval will likely hover in a narrow range between 43 and 47 percent given the entrenched divisions in the electorate. That level of support, while not overwhelming, has proven resilient and may be enough to carry him through political battles ahead.