More Americans say Trump’s second term has been worse than expected, according to a new poll

Two months into Donald Trump’s 2nd term, much Americans accidental his statesmanlike show has been worse (41%) alternatively than amended (30%) than they expected, according to a caller Yahoo News/YouGov poll.

Another 22% accidental Trump has been “about the same” arsenic they expected.

The caller survey of 1,677 U.S. adults, which was conducted from March 20 to 24, finds the president struggling amid rising economical uncertainty to support the governmental momentum that greeted his reelection past November.

Immediately aft Trump’s Nov. 5 victory, 51% of Americans told Yahoo News and YouGov that they approved of the mode helium had handled his archetypal word successful office, portion 43% said they disapproved. But contiguous those numbers are reversed, with much Americans disapproving (50%) than approving (44%) of the occupation that Trump is presently doing.

Likewise, much Americans present complaint Trump unfavorably (52%) than favorably (44%) connected a idiosyncratic level. After the election, Trump’s favorable standing (49%) narrowly exceeded his unfavorable standing (48%).

The ‘honeymoon’ effect

Do these numbers mean Trump’s “honeymoon” is over? Possibly. A president’s popularity typically peaks successful the archetypal signifier of his presidency. But portion much Americans said successful November that they expected Trump to alteration America for the amended during his 2nd word (45%) than said they expected him to alteration America for the worse (33%), somewhat much present deliberation helium is, successful fact, doing the opposite: changing the state for the worse (43%) alternatively than the amended (40%).

Perceptions of Trump’s narration to ideology person shifted arsenic well. In November, much Americans agreed with the thought that Trump “likes to speech tough” but “won’t endanger democracy” during his 2nd word (43%) than agreed with the thought that Trump “poses a existent menace to democracy” due to the fact that “it’s not conscionable pugnacious talk” (39%). Now, however, the fig of Americans who accidental Trump represents a existent menace to ideology (47%) is importantly higher than the fig who accidental it’s each conscionable speech (39%).

Why Trump’s popularity has declined

There are 2 main reasons for Trump’s declining popularity, according to the poll. The archetypal is reasonably simple, and apt inevitable.

Trump has dominated U.S. authorities for a decade, truthful views of him are comparatively fixed — and polarized. But aft the election, astatine slightest immoderate Democrats softened their accustomed absorption to the president.

In November, for example, 68% of Democrats predicted Trump would alteration America for the worse; today, galore much (82%) accidental that’s what he’s really doing. In different words, a humble fig of Democrats who were consenting to “give Trump a chance” precocious past twelvemonth person reverted backmost to opposing the president aft seeing however helium spent his archetypal months backmost successful office.

The 2nd crushed Trump’s popularity is falling whitethorn beryllium much self-inflicted: however he’s dealing with — oregon not dealing with — economical issues.

When asked to place the astir important contented facing the country, astir fractional of Americans take either the outgo of surviving (23%) oregon the system (23%). Democracy (12%), migration (11%) and authorities spending (8%) way acold behind.

But erstwhile asked astir the most important contented to Trump — "based connected the actions helium has taken truthful acold successful his 2nd term" — conscionable 1 successful 10 Americans prime either the outgo of surviving (2%) oregon the system (9%). Far much prime migration (37%) oregon authorities spending (25%); 1 successful 5 accidental they aren’t definite (19%). All different issues registry astatine 2% oregon lower.

Real economical worries

This monolithic disconnect betwixt what’s important to Americans and what seems important to Trump comes astatine a clip of persistent economical anxiety:

• Just 26% of Americans present complaint the authorities of the system arsenic fantabulous oregon good; 70% complaint it just oregon poor. Right earlier the election, those numbers were 30% and 67%, respectively.

• 47% of Americans accidental the system is getting worse; lone 26% accidental it is getting better.

• 51% of Americans judge ostentation is getting worse, astir the aforesaid arsenic past October.

• Only a 3rd of Americans (34%) picture their ain idiosyncratic economical concern arsenic fantabulous oregon good, portion 64% accidental it is just oregon poor. Those numbers are besides unchanged since October.

• Most Americans judge the system is successful a recession contiguous (26%) oregon headed toward 1 (26%).

• A afloat 87% of Americans accidental market prices are excessively high, portion conscionable 7% accidental they’re astir close and a specified 1% accidental they’re excessively low. Two-thirds (66%) accidental market prices are going up close now.

As a result, Trump’s perceived inattention to the system and the outgo of surviving has damaged his lasting with the public. His standing for handling the system — 39% o.k. to 51% disapprove — is present little than his wide occupation rating. In fact, Trump’s economical standing is little contiguous than it was during the tallness of the COVID-19 pandemic, from May to June 2020 (49% o.k. to 45% disapprove, connected average).

And Trump’s standing for handling the outgo of surviving is little still: 34% o.k. to 54% disapprove.

Tariffs aren’t helping

Meanwhile, the president’s main effect to America’s economical challenges — hiking tariffs connected imported goods — doesn’t look to beryllium helping, astatine slightest not yet.

It’s existent that a plurality of Americans hold with the president that tariffs volition unit companies to manufacture things successful America alternatively than elsewhere (46% agree, 29% disagree) and rise hundreds of billions of dollars successful gross for the national authorities (42% agree, 33% disagree).

But Americans besides hold with Trump’s critics by a wider borderline that tariffs “will origin a recession" (49% agree, 23% disagree) — and astir of all, that tariffs "will summation the magnitude I personally wage for goods and services" (68% agree, 14% disagree). They bash not hold with Trump’s statement that tariffs volition unit different countries to dainty the U.S. much reasonably (36% agree, 44% disagree).

Overall, then, it’s nary astonishment that astir Americans judge Trump’s tariffs are having much of a antagonistic effect (51%) than a affirmative effect (20%) connected today’s economy. That spread narrows a spot erstwhile Americans are asked to foretell the tariffs’ semipermanent effects, but it is inactive much antagonistic (44%) than affirmative (31%).

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The Yahoo News survey was conducted by YouGov utilizing a nationally typical illustration of 1,677 U.S. adults interviewed online from March 20 to 24, 2025. The illustration was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2024 predetermination turnout and statesmanlike vote, enactment recognition and existent elector registration status. Demographic weighting targets travel from the 2019 American Community Survey. Party recognition is weighted to the estimated organisation astatine the clip of the predetermination (31% Democratic, 32% Republican). Respondents were selected from YouGov’s opt-in sheet to beryllium typical of each U.S. adults. The borderline of mistake is astir 2.6%.