Franklin Dean
The honeymoon period for any new leader typically involves elevated approval ratings in the early stages of their tenure. However, former US President Donald Trump's time in office was characterized by a lack of such a honeymoon period, with his approval ratings being the most stable ever measured for a US President. Trump's approval ratings started at a modest 50% and began to slip after just one month in office, with polls indicating that many of his policies were unpopular with Americans. Trump's actions, such as his Ukraine surrender policy, boomeranging tariffs, and threats to invade Canada, led to market crashes, inflation, and a belief that a recession was on the horizon. These unintended consequences of his actions brought about chaos and strife, causing his approval ratings to slide even further.
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What You'll Learn
Trump's approval ratings are slipping
Trump's handling of the economy has been a significant factor in his slipping approval ratings. The Post-Ipsos poll shows Americans disapprove of his management of the economy by a margin of 53 to 45, the worst economic approval numbers since 2017. The Reuters poll shows his economic approval at 39%, lower than in his first term. The data suggests that Americans perceive Trump as misplacing his priorities, with 62% saying he hasn't done enough to reduce the price of everyday goods.
Trump's policies and initiatives have also been a contributing factor to his declining approval ratings. Multiple polls have shown that most of his signature policies are unpopular, with all but two of his dozen policies in the Post-Ipsos poll being unpopular by an average of 25 points. Similarly, the CNN poll found that more people considered his initiatives a "bad idea" than a "good idea" by an average of 23 points.
Trump's tariffs have been particularly controversial, with Americans opposing his tariffs on aluminum and steel by 15 points (49-34) in the CNN poll. The Post-Ipsos poll also showed nearly 2-to-1 opposition to his 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada. About 7 in 10 Americans believe that tariffs generally increase prices in the United States.
Trump's other unpopular proposals include the shuttering of USAID, the firing of large numbers of government workers, and his Ukraine surrender policy, which has been criticized as emboldening Vladimir Putin and intensifying attacks.
Overall, Trump's approval ratings are slipping, and his honeymoon period appears to be over. His handling of the economy and unpopular policies have contributed to the decline in his approval ratings.
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His handling of the economy
One of Trump's key campaign promises was to "make America wealthy again". His economic policies have been a mix of tax cuts, deregulation, and protectionism. On the campaign trail, he promised to boost economic growth, bring back jobs, and renegotiate trade deals.
During his tenure, the US economy performed well, with strong GDP growth, low unemployment, and rising stock markets. Trump's signature achievement was the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which reduced taxes for individuals and corporations. This stimulus, along with increased government spending, helped boost economic growth. The US GDP grew by an average of 2.5% during Trump's time in office, and the stock market reached record highs.
However, the positive economic indicators during the Trump years were built on a foundation that was already strong, with many trends continuing from the Obama era. The benefits of this growth were also unevenly distributed, with the wealthiest Americans gaining the most. Despite promises to reduce the national debt, Trump's policies instead contributed to its increase, with the national debt rising by over $7 trillion during his term.
Trump's protectionist trade policies, including tariffs on imports and attempts to renegotiate trade deals, caused uncertainty and disruption to global supply chains. This led to retaliatory tariffs from other countries, hurting American farmers and manufacturers. While some jobs were brought back to the US, this was often through coercion and strong-arm tactics, and the overall effect on the economy was mixed.
Overall, Trump's handling of the economy was characterized by short-term gains and stimulus measures, with little regard for long-term sustainability. While some sectors and individuals benefited, the economy was already strong when he took office, and the benefits were unevenly distributed. His policies also contributed to a significant increase in the national debt, leaving a potential bill for future generations.
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Unpopular policies
By March 2025, Trump's approval ratings had begun to slide, with sources suggesting that his honeymoon period was over. This was largely attributed to his handling of the economy, with Americans disapproving of his management of the issue by 53 to 45, according to a Post-Ipsos poll. The same poll also revealed that 62% of Americans, including a majority of Republican-leaning voters, believed that Trump had not done enough to reduce the price of everyday goods.
Trump's policies were also a significant factor in his declining popularity. A Post-Ipsos poll showed that all but two of a dozen Trump policies were unpopular, by an average of 25 points. These unpopular policies included mass deportation, banning transgender people from the military, shuttering the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and pardoning January 6 defendants.
Trump's proposal to build a wall along the Mexican border was also deeply unpopular, with a Quinnipiac survey finding that 64% of voters opposed the idea, and only 33% supported it. Similarly, a median of 76% of people globally disapproved of the wall, with only 16% in favor. The idea was particularly unpopular in Europe and Latin America, with about 85% of people in both regions expressing disapproval.
Trump's other policies that faced opposition included:
- His proposal to withdraw the U.S. from international trade pacts, with a global median of 72% disapproving.
- His approach to immigration, with majorities in only three of the 37 countries surveyed approving of his restrictions on immigration from some Muslim-majority countries.
- His plan to increase tariffs on imported goods, with a global median of 68% disapproving.
- His administration's withdrawal from international climate agreements, opposed by a global median of 66%.
- His suggestion to reduce legal immigration by half over a decade, with 48% of voters backing the reduction and 39% against it.
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Foreign policy
In 2025, one month into his second term as US President, Donald Trump's approval ratings were sliding, and it was suggested that his honeymoon period was over. Trump's foreign policy initiatives were struggling to take hold, and his trade war was causing economic market instability.
Trump's foreign policy decisions were described as "rash actions" rooted in "ignorance, error, wilful blindness and self-defeating prediction". His actions were leading to contradictory, harmful and often opposite results to those he says he wants.
Trump's Ukraine surrender policy was criticised as "calamitous". While Russia was the aggressor, Trump's policy punished Ukraine. This was seen as emboldening Vladimir Putin to intensify attacks, notably in Kursk, while Trump was being "strung along". The unintended consequences of this policy could be the undeserved rehabilitation of Russia, amnesty for Putin's war crimes, and a deep US-Europe split.
Trump's nuclear policy was also criticised. Despite claiming to want a nuclear-free world, his policies were seen as having the opposite effect. His "bullying" of Tehran to restart nuclear talks was seen as having enraged Iran's leaders and made a military confrontation with the US and Israel more likely.
Trump's foreign policy was also characterised by his desire to take over Greenland and make Canada the 51st state. His threats to invade Canada had led to boycotts of US goods and retaliatory tariffs from Canada.
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Market instability
Trump's trade policies, in particular, have been a source of significant concern. His aggressive use of tariffs, including on imports from Mexico and Canada, has sparked retaliation from other countries, resulting in a growing trade war that is roiling economic markets. This has contributed to stock market crashes and inflation, with Trump's actions often producing opposite results to those he intended. For instance, his tariffs on steel and aluminium are opposed by Americans, who recognise their role in increasing the prices of products in the United States.
Trump's economic agenda has also been a factor in the market instability. His mass deportation of immigrants and firing of government workers have been unpopular, with Americans recognising the potential impact on the economy. Additionally, his failure to prioritise reducing the prices of everyday goods has been a point of contention, with even Republican-leaning voters expressing disapproval.
The shuttering of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has also been a significant concern for Americans, with strong opposition reflected in polls. Trump's foreign policy decisions, such as his Ukraine surrender policy, have further contributed to market instability. His actions have emboldened Vladimir Putin to intensify attacks, and his handling of the situation has led to an undeserved rehabilitation of Russia and a potential amnesty for Putin's war crimes.
Overall, Trump's actions and policies have created a highly uncertain economic environment, with his approval ratings sliding as a result. The market instability caused by Trump's initiatives and the potential for a global recession have characterised the end of his honeymoon period.
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Frequently asked questions
Presidents typically enjoy elevated job approval ratings in their first months in office, before political gravity takes hold, disappointment sets in, and approval ratings fall.
Trump's honeymoon period was short-lived. Within a month of taking office, his approval ratings were already dropping. Some sources claim Trump did not experience a honeymoon period at all.
Trump's honeymoon period ended due to a combination of factors, including his handling of the economy, his controversial policies, and his unintended consequences, such as market crashes and the prospect of a recession.
Trump's honeymoon period was one of the briefest in history. While other presidents like John Kennedy and Richard Nixon enjoyed approval ratings above 60% and 70% respectively during their first year in office, Trump's approval rating never reached such heights and quickly declined.
