Trump’s Approval Drops as Tariffs Raise Inflation Concerns: Poll

Trump’s Approval Drops as Tariffs Raise Inflation Concerns: Poll

WASHINGTON: A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll has revealed that only one in three Americans approves of President Donald Trump’s approach to addressing the rising cost of living in the United States. This comes as concerns grow over his newly implemented steep import tariffs, which took effect on Tuesday and are expected to drive prices even higher.

The two-day poll, conducted just before Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress, showed his approval ratings below 40% on key issues such as the economy, foreign policy, and corruption. However, he received a 49% approval rating for his handling of immigration policy.

Despite these figures, Trump’s overall approval rating remains steady at 44%, which is higher than the ratings achieved by his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, during the latter half of his 2021-2025 administration.

The poll indicated that only 31% of Americans support Trump’s management of the cost of living, a slight decline from 34% in a similar poll conducted in late February. Meanwhile, 54% expressed disapproval.

Trump’s recent policy moves include imposing a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, as well as a 20% tariff on Chinese goods. Economists warn that these tariffs could exacerbate inflation. Trump’s 2024 election victory was partly attributed to public frustration over years of high inflation under Biden. However, only 31% of respondents agreed that tariffs would be beneficial even if they led to higher prices.

Recent government reports highlighted persistent inflation in January, with consumer spending experiencing its sharpest decline since February 2021 when adjusted for rising prices.

**Shifting Alliances and Domestic Policies**
Trump has also shifted focus toward strengthening ties with Moscow, halting military aid to Ukraine, which is currently defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion. The poll revealed mixed opinions on Trump’s proposal to condition US support for Ukraine on gaining a share of Ukraine’s mineral wealth. While 46% supported this idea, 50% opposed it.

Despite Trump’s apparent criticism of Ukraine, the majority of Americans view Russia as the primary aggressor in the conflict. Approximately 70% of respondents, including three-quarters of Democrats and two-thirds of Republicans, agreed that Russia bears more responsibility for starting the war.

**Government Overhaul and Public Opinion**
Trump has also initiated significant changes within the federal government, appointing Elon Musk to lead efforts to streamline the workforce, including potential mass layoffs of civil service employees. While 59% of respondents supported downsizing the federal government, only 40% backed the idea of firing tens of thousands of federal workers. Fifty-seven percent opposed such layoffs, including a quarter of self-identified Republicans.

Additionally, 50% of those polled, including one in five Republicans and four in five Democrats, felt that Trump’s cost-cutting measures, led by Musk, had gone too far.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll surveyed 1,174 adults nationwide and had a margin of error of three percentage points.

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