Trump Gets Failing Grade from Most Americans After 100 Days in Office
- The New York Editorial Desk - Arif
- Apr 29
- 2 min read
By The Numbers: Trump’s Approval Slipping
A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll shows that nearly half of Americans give President Donald Trump a grade of F for his performance in the first 100 days of his second term.
45% of respondents said Trump deserves an F.
Only 23% gave him an A.
50% of independents also gave him a failing grade.
Just over half of Republicans gave him an A.
The survey included 1,439 adults, conducted from April 21–23, with a margin of error of ±3.3 percentage points.
Approval Ratings Near Historic Lows
Trump’s overall approval rating has dropped to 42%, with 36% support among independents.
This marks the second-lowest 100-day approval rating for a president in 80 years.
Only Trump’s first-term 100-day rating was lower.
Economic Confidence is Shrinking
Trump’s economic approval has hit a low of 39%, a drop even from his first term.
64% believe grocery prices will continue to rise, up from 57% last month.
57% say tariffs on imports hurt the U.S. economy, though two-thirds of Republicans still support them.
60% say today’s economy is Trump's responsibility, not something he inherited.
Nearly 1 in 5 Americans are now making purchasing decisions based on tariffs, with some speeding up buys and others delaying them.
Most Disapprove of His Overall Performance
A majority disapproves of Trump’s handling of nearly every major issue:
Tariffs: 58% disapprove
Economy: 55% disapprove
Foreign policy: 53% disapprove
Immigration: 52% disapprove
Overall, 53% disapprove of Trump’s job performance, with 45% strongly disapproving.
Public Rejects Trump’s Pace and Legal Defiance
More Americans believe Trump is moving too fast on policy:
61% say he’s rushing, up 5 points from last month.
85% say Trump should follow court orders, even if he disagrees with them.
This sentiment crosses party lines, though only a quarter of Republicans strongly agree with obeying court orders compared to three-quarters of Democrats.
Controversy: Kilmar Abrego Garcia Case
Almost half disapprove of how the administration handled the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was removed to El Salvador despite a court ruling blocking it.
Only 35% support the administration's handling of the case.
The administration calls Garcia a gang member, but a judge called the evidence "flimsy."
The Supreme Court had ordered his return to the U.S.
Americans Say The Country Is On The Wrong Track
By a 51%-42% margin, Americans believe Trump is leading the country in the wrong direction.
49% say Trump’s policies have negatively affected them.
That includes two-thirds of Democrats and half of independents.
Elon Musk’s Popularity Declines
Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is also facing backlash.
54% hold an unfavorable view of Musk, up from 50% last month.
Only 34% view him favorably.
His advisory role with DOGE is set to end soon, especially as Tesla profits fell 71% and Musk says he’ll pull back from government duties.
The Bottom Line
Americans are signaling strong dissatisfaction with President Trump’s early second-term performance, especially on the economy, policy decisions, and disregard for court rulings.
Comments