As President Donald Trump nears the 100-day milestone of his second term in the White House, new polling reveals that his approval rating trails his recent predecessors by double digits at this point in their presidencies.
Trump re-entered office with relatively strong support, fueled by hopes that he would tackle economic concerns and curb undocumented immigration. While his standing on immigration remains somewhat positive, his approval rating on economic issues has plunged sharply in recent weeks, following the introduction of new tariffs and the resulting turmoil in financial markets.
Since January, Trump’s overall approval rating has been sliding. As he prepares to mark his 100th day back in office, political analysts and commentators are closely evaluating his record and the public’s perception of his leadership so far.
Polling released by CNN on Sunday shows Trump’s approval rating currently sits at 41 percent. His disapproval rating is significantly higher, standing at 59 percent, including 45 percent of respondents who say they disapprove of him strongly.
By comparison, former President Joe Biden had an approval rating of 53 percent at the same point in 2021, putting Biden 12 points ahead of where Trump stands today. Former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush posted even stronger numbers, with Obama enjoying a 63 percent approval rating and Bush close behind at 62 percent both more than 20 points higher than Trump’s current rating.
Trump’s present approval rating is also lower than it was during the first 100 days of his first term. In late April 2017, Trump held a 44 percent approval rating, three points higher than he has now.
The CNN survey included 1,678 U.S. adults and was conducted from April 17 to 24, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
Meanwhile, another poll released by The Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos on Sunday found Trump’s approval slightly higher but still declining. According to that survey, 42 percent of registered voters said they approve of the president, compared to 48 percent who said the same in February. Those who disapprove rose from 51 percent to 55 percent.
The Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll surveyed 2,464 U.S. adults between April 18 and 22 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.