In his second term, Donald Trump’s political standing has undergone a significant shift, with his core strengths and weaknesses diverging from those of his first presidency. Polling data indicates that while the economy was once a key pillar of his support, it is now a relative weakness. In its place, his strongest issues have become border security and crime.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Key Strengths:
- Border Security and Immigration: Trump’s approval on border security has become a notable strength, with most Americans giving him higher marks on this issue than on his overall job performance. His approval on immigration, while slightly lower than at the start of his second term, remains higher than his overall job approval rating. This is a reversal from his first term when his immigration approval was consistently lower.
- Crime: The president’s handling of crime is another area of relative strength. His approval rating on crime, at 46%, exceeds his overall approval rating and is particularly strong among independents.
Key Weaknesses:
- Economy: The economy is now a major weak spot for Trump. Only 37% of U.S. adults approve of his economic performance, a significant drop from his first term when nearly half of Americans approved. This weakness is particularly pronounced among independents, with only about 2 in 10 approving of his economic policies.
- Trade and Health Care: These issues have the lowest approval ratings among his own Republican base, with only about 7 in 10 Republicans approving. Overall, only one-third of Americans approve of his handling of trade and health care.
- Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Trump’s approval on this specific foreign policy issue has also declined, falling from 44% in March to 37% in recent polling.
Despite these shifts on specific issues, Trump’s overall job approval rating has remained relatively stable, fluctuating within a narrow range. His current approval rating stands at 39%, in line with his average since the beginning of his second term.
