President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order to begin demolishing the Department of Education, marking a historic action that has been in the making for 45 years. Since returning to the White House two months ago, Trump has been expanding presidential powers, upending longstanding government policy, and making major cuts to the federal workforce through a flurry of executive orders. Trump has signed nearly 100 executive orders since his inauguration, far surpassing recent presidential predecessors. Despite touting that “a lot of great things are happening,” Americans are divided on Trump’s performance, with his approval rating standing at 49% in the latest Fox News national survey.
The Fox News poll reveals a massive partisan divide over Trump’s approval rating, with 92% of Republican respondents approving of his performance, while an equal percentage of Democrats disapprove. More than six-in-ten independents also disapprove of the job Trump is doing. Trump’s overall 49% approval rating is his all-time high in Fox News polling, which is six points higher than where he stood at this point in his first administration. While Trump’s approval ratings were largely negative in most surveys during his first term, his current numbers are largely driven by solid Republican support.
Despite Trump’s improved poll numbers compared to eight years ago, there has been a slight slippage in his approval ratings since returning to the White House in January. Contributing to the slide are concerns about the economy and fears that Trump’s tariffs may lead to further inflation. The latest polls suggest growing skepticism about Trump’s economic actions and policies, particularly among independents who are currently giving him a thumbs down on his handling of the economy. However, political analyst Daron Shaw suggests that these numbers could flip if inflation decreases and there is economic growth.
The consolidation of the Republican base behind Trump has been a key factor in his improved approval ratings, as Democrats remain solidly opposed to his presidency. Recent polls have indicated record low favorability ratings for the Democratic Party, but there is widespread agreement among Democrats in their dislike of Trump. Trump’s current level of support from the GOP was not the case at the start of his first term, when he faced challenges with some Republicans. Despite the partisan divide over Trump’s presidency, independents will play a crucial role in determining his approval ratings, as they tend to go with the times based on economic conditions and other factors.
Overall, Trump’s poll numbers have shown some improvement compared to his first term in office, but there is still a significant partisan divide over his performance. The latest Fox News poll and other surveys indicate strong Republican support for Trump, while Democrats remain opposed. Independents will be key in determining Trump’s approval ratings moving forward, particularly in relation to his handling of the economy. If inflation decreases and there is economic growth, Trump’s approval ratings among independents could potentially improve.
