“Trump Hits Rock Bottom in the Polls — and Analysts Are Stunned” From economy to immigration, the public’s patience seems to have snapped. Dive into the data and discover why America’s opinion of Trump is Read More

“Trump Hits Rock Bottom in the Polls — and Analysts Are Stunned” From economy to immigration, the public’s patience seems to have snapped.
Dive into the data and discover why America’s opinion of Trump is nosediving.

“Donald Trump is doing absolutely awful in the minds of the American people.” CNN’s data analyst finds Trump’s record low approval rating actually stunning.

A Troubling Grade for the President

According to multiple polling sources, Donald Trump’s job approval has dipped into historically weak territory. One CNN/SSRS poll found him at 41 % approval around the 100-day mark of his second term — the lowest for any newly elected president in at least seven decades.
Further, his approval specifically on the economy — an issue he made central to his message — has been flagged by Enten as “worse than any other president at this point in their term.”
In a forthright comment, Enten said:

> “Donald Trump is doing absolutely awful in the minds of the American people … We’re talking about new lows. He’s set new lows for himself.”

What’s Driving the Slide?

Several factors appear to be contributing to the downward trend:

Economic anxiety.
Many polls show Americans express decreasing confidence in Trump’s economic stewardship. For example, one poll found 56 % disapproving of his handling of the economy. Tariff policies, inflation worries, and perceptions of a worse personal financial situation were cited.
Enten remarked that the president’s economic approval rating had entered deeply negative territory and lacked historical precedent.

Core issues turning into weak points.
Issues once treated as strengths for Trump — such as immigration or “tough talk” on trade — are showing signs of fatigue or backlash. Enten flagged his immigration-policy performance as particularly weak for his base:

> “They have turned against the president on his core strength… He is now underwater on the issue that has been strongest for him.”

Independents pulling away.
While Republicans remain largely supportive, independents and unaffiliated voters are showing significantly more disapproval — a troubling sign for any president who hopes to maintain broader appeal.

Historical comparison.
Trump’s numbers stand out not just because they are low — but because historically presidents at similar points in their terms have enjoyed stronger support. One summary:

> “Polls … show Trump’s approval rating dropping from +7 in January 2025 to –2 currently … Trump remains the only president consistently underwater at this point in his term.”

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Why It Matters

Presidential approval ratings aren’t just vanity metrics. They influence political leg-work, election dynamics, legislative leverage, and public confidence. Some implications:

Governance & agenda-setting: Low ratings make it harder to push through major initiatives, especially if Congressional allies see the public as souring.

Midterm and future races: If independents and swing‐voters are drifting away, it raises risks for the president’s party in upcoming elections.

Policy flexibility: Presidents with weak public support often find themselves boxed in, with less margin for error when controversies arise.

Perception of legitimacy: A president perceived as broadly disapproved of may face stronger opposition on both policy and symbolic fronts.

In short: the data suggest that Donald Trump is facing a meaningful public-opinion challenge. According to CNN’s Harry Enten, the polling landscape is “one of the worst” for him, with core issues slipping and independents turning disaffected. With approval ratings dipping into historically weak zones and his formerly strongest issues eroding, the president confronts a tougher terrain than many analysts expected at this point.