Trump Undermines His Own Popularity

It marks a dramatic—and for him, deeply unwelcome—turning point in his second presidential term.

A Warning for Republicans

It’s especially independent voters who are backing away from the president—voters who have historically been critical in deciding national elections.

That makes the latest numbers more than just a personal problem for Trump. It threatens to become a broader liability for the Republican Party ahead of the 2026 midterms.

CNN political analyst Harry Enten puts it plainly: Trump’s net favorability among independents has dropped from -16% in 2017 to -22% in 2025. “He’s broken his own record,” Enten noted dryly.

From Momentum to Freefall

In the 2024 presidential election, Trump secured 46% of the independent vote, a gain from 41% in 2020. But that support is now rapidly eroding—especially after his sweeping tariff announcement on April 2.

The announcement sent shockwaves through financial markets. And although a temporary pause on the tariffs briefly calmed investors, it hasn’t helped his image among voters.

A broad range of polls that include post-tariff data from independents now show an average net favorability rating of -17%. The lowest reading—from YouGov—shows 30% approval and 61% disapproval. Other surveys are similarly grim.

The Economy: His Achilles’ Heel

Trump’s economic policies are drawing the most criticism. Back in January, he still had positive marks among independents on handling the economy. But now, net trust in his economic leadership has dropped to -29%.

“They don’t like anything Trump is saying right now—maybe with the exception of immigration,” said Enten. “But when it comes to the economy, especially tariffs, there’s only one pattern: resistance, resistance, resistance.”

Polls back this up: only 37% of independents support the new tariffs, while nearly half are opposed. Even though about 50% still believe tariffs can be justified in fair global trade, the other half firmly disagrees.

Economic Anxiety Mounts

At the same time, economic optimism is collapsing. In a HarrisX poll, just 26% of independents say the U.S. economy is moving in the right direction. YouGov reports 50% disapprove of Trump’s economic handling, with only 36% expressing approval. A CBS/YouGov poll paints an even bleaker picture: 64% express dissatisfaction.

Inflation, in particular, is a major sore point. In yet another poll, a staggering 68% of independents said Trump is not handling inflation well—only 32% approve of his approach.

Nearly half of independents also say their personal financial situation has worsened under his leadership.

Warnings from the Business World

It’s not just voters expressing concern—business leaders are speaking out. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon recently warned during an investor call that Trump’s trade policies have significantly increased the risk of a U.S. recession.

“We’re entering Q2 with a vastly different economic reality than just a few months ago,” Solomon said. “The outlook for recession has risen, and we’re seeing more indicators of slowing economic activity—both nationally and globally.”

Trump may still command loyalty among his base, but if he can’t regain the trust of independents, his political future—and the GOP’s—could be in serious jeopardy.

Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.