Trump's Second Term: A Troubling Start in the White House
As Donald Trump marks 100 days back in the White House, the mood among Americans appears far from celebratory. The Republican, who decisively won the November 2024 election, now faces disheartening approval ratings. Recent polls show that only 40 percent of Americans express enthusiasm for his administration's flurry of regulations and announcements. According to research conducted by The New York Times and the Siena College Research Institute, a staggering 66 percent of survey respondents describe Trump's tenure as chaotic, with 59 percent finding it alarming. Merely 42 percent consider the whirlwind beginning of his second term to be exciting in a positive manner.
A separate survey by the Washington Post, ABC News, and Ipsos reveals an approval rating of just 39 percent. This marks the lowest approval rate at this stage of a presidency in nearly 80 years, with Trump II performing worse than Trump I did eight years earlier. There are even cracks among Trump's supporters regarding the fulfillment of his campaign promises, particularly in areas such as the economy and immigration.
During his campaign, Trump, the champion of the Make America Great Again movement (MAGA), pledged to quickly eliminate inflation and create tremendous wealth while deporting numerous undocumented immigrants. Despite these promises, confidence in his economic strategies remains shaky, as many respondants from traditionally supportive demographics exhibit doubt about Trump's ability to effectively tackle these issues.
Even on conservative networks like Fox News, only 44 percent of viewers approve of Trump's performance, notably less than approval ratings achieved by Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush in their first 100 days. This includes concerns over Trump's trade policies; his excessive tariffs, a focus of his administration, have been met with widespread disapproval both internationally and domestically, and only a third of respondents believe that these tariffs will effectively control inflation. Many, including entrepreneurs and farmers, worry about the potential for further price hikes and disruptions in supply chains as a result of Trump's trade war mentality.
Amid a deteriorating relationship with China and uncertainty in economic strategies, voters are expressing concern over Trump's perceived overreach of power. A New York Times/Siena Poll indicates that over half of eligible voters believe Trump is exceeding his authority, a sentiment echoed by 16 percent of Republicans and 62 percent of Independents.
Adding to the scrutiny on his administration are troubling incidents involving immigration policies. One notable case is that of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran family man who was mistakenly deported and detained despite lacking charges against him in the U.S. Even courts have demanded his return, but the Trump administration remains unyielding. Furthermore, reports surfaced that two minor U.S. citizens were deported alongside their mother to Honduras, raising questions about the administration's immigration practices and their implications.
While Trump is expected to commemorate his 100 days in office with a speech highlighting his achievements, the ongoing challenges his administration faces—from skepticism among his voter base to troubling immigration policies—may overshadow any celebratory tone he seeks to convey. As he prepares to address the nation, the public waits for responses from figures like Kamala Harris, emphasizing the ongoing scrutiny he will face moving forward.
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