Throughout both of his campaigns and presidencies, Donald Trump has positioned himself as a dealmaker and economic steward—someone who could “bring back jobs” and lower costs.
But amid rising inflation, a mounting trade war with countries like China and Canada, and concerns about a recession, polls show that voters no longer trust Trump on the economy, with his approval ratings on the topic taking a sharp downturn over the month of April, according to a series of polls.
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted between April 16-21 among 4,306 respondents, shows a steady decline since the start of the year. Trump’s economic approval was at 43 percent in late January; it has now dropped to 37 percent percent, a 6-point slide.
The lack of a clear economic victory in Trump’s second term—combined with persistent concerns about inflation—should be deeply worrying for the White House as the 2026 midterms approach, according to Thomas Gift, associate professor of political science and director …