Trump’s Approval Ratings Plunge as Economic Concerns Rise

Mar. 15, 2025, 10:18 am ET

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  • President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have plummeted, with over 50% of voters disapproving of his performance.
  • A recent Quinnipiac survey shows President Trump is “underwater on everything,” including economic management, federal workforce handling, and trade policies.
  • Consumer sentiment has hit a two-year low due to concerns over tariffs, inflation, and economic uncertainty under President Trump’s policies.

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Quick Brief

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Essential Context

President Trump is facing significant challenges in his second term, with his approval ratings sinking across various policy areas. A Fox News host, Jessica Tarlov, highlighted a Quinnipiac survey showing 53% of voters disapprove of President Trump’s performance.

Core Players

  • Donald Trump – President of the United States
  • Jessica Tarlov – Fox News host
  • Quinnipiac University – Conducted the survey on Trump’s approval ratings
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson – Faced backlash over proposed cuts

Key Numbers

  • 53% – Percentage of voters disapproving of President Trump’s performance (Quinnipiac survey)
  • 45% – Percentage of voters approving of President Trump’s performance (previous Quinnipiac survey)
  • 54% – Percentage of voters disapproving of President Trump (CNN poll)
  • 57.9 – Consumer sentiment index, the lowest since November 2022 (University of Michigan)
  • 4.9% – Expected annual inflation rate by consumers (University of Michigan survey)

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The Catalyst

Jessica Tarlov’s analysis on Fox News highlighted that President Trump is “underwater on everything,” including his economic management, handling of the federal workforce, and trade policies. This comes after a series of town halls where constituents expressed strong dissatisfaction with the administration’s new policies.

“They’re discussing how he’s attempting to cut healthcare while offering tax breaks to the wealthy,” Tarlov noted, indicating that Democratic messaging is resonating with voters.

Inside Forces

President Trump’s administration has been implementing significant cuts, including those proposed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). These cuts have led to backlash, with Republican representatives facing hostile audiences at town halls.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has claimed that disgruntled community members are “paid actors,” a claim that has not been substantiated.

Power Dynamics

The political landscape is increasingly challenging for President Trump, with his approval ratings consistently below 50%. The Quinnipiac survey and other polls indicate widespread disapproval across various policy areas.

Republican representatives are also feeling the heat, with some facing intense criticism for endorsing the DOGE’s proposed cuts.

Outside Impact

The economic policies of the President Trump administration have led to a plunge in consumer sentiment, hitting a two-year low. The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index fell to 57.9, the lowest since November 2022.

Concerns over tariffs, inflation, and economic uncertainty are driving this decline. Consumers now expect inflation to rise at an annual rate of 4.9%, the highest expectation since 2022.

Future Forces

The ongoing economic uncertainty and policy instability are likely to continue affecting consumer confidence and spending. Economists warn that the current economic agenda could lead to restrained consumer spending and increased recession probabilities.

Key areas to watch include the impact of trade wars, the management of the federal workforce, and the handling of economic policies.

Data Points

  • March 4, 2025: President Trump addressed a joint session of Congress, but his approval ratings remained low.
  • March 2025: Consumer sentiment index fell to 57.9, the lowest since November 2022.
  • 2025: President Trump signed an Executive Order to reduce the Federal bureaucracy, eliminating non-statutory functions and reducing statutory functions of unnecessary governmental entities.
  • 2022: Inflation peaked, leading to increased consumer concerns about economic stability.

The current state of President Trump’s approval ratings and the broader economic landscape suggest a challenging period ahead. As consumer sentiment continues to decline and policy uncertainty persists, the impact on the economy and political stability will be closely watched.