By John Nwokocha and Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The President of United States of America, USA, Mr Donal Trump is facing a strong resistance to his key decisions on economics and global trade causing a significant shrinking of his administration’s influences, and upsetting the stability of his second term.
Prominent among emerging concerns polls show significant disapproval of Trump’s handling of inflation and cost of living.
“What’s more concerning for Trump is that key voter blocs that helped secure his return to the White House are now slipping away”, asserts a report.
It emerged on Wednesday that a growing number of Americans appear disillusioned with his leadership, particularly amid a turbulent global trade war and controversial economic policies.
Africa Health Report’s (AHR) findings show that any illusions of a sweeping mandate are rapidly dissolving.
His administration’s aggressive tariffs, dubbed “Liberation Day” policies, have stirred market uncertainty and consumer anxiety, fueling a stark political reality: the former president is struggling to maintain the political capital needed to navigate the turbulence ahead.
A report in nymag.com available to AHR said that despite a fleeting post-election “honeymoon,” public opinion is souring — and fast. “We’ve had three entirely post–Liberation Day polls. None of them are good for Donald Trump,” warned Silver Bulletin, as poll after poll signals a steady erosion in approval.
The report continues, “The numbers tell a sobering tale. On Inauguration Day, Trump held a net positive approval rating of 11.6 percent, but by April 9, that figure had swung to a net negative of 5.3 percent — a dramatic 16.9-point decline”.
It emphasized, “Though some of the early support likely stemmed from relief that the chaotic 2024 campaign had ended, the fall indicates a return to the unpopularity that defined much of Trump’s political life. His appeal remains largely confined to the Republican base, with no clear signs of expansion.
“The idea that Trump has fundamentally expanded his base of support is looking less likely every day,” as his approval dips below the surface once more.
Latino voters, in particular, are voicing sharp disapproval — 58 percent view his job performance negatively, with 42 percent doing so strongly.
Among younger voters, Trump’s favorability has plunged from a slim positive margin on Inauguration Day to a chilling minus-29 percent. This growing discontent likely stems from unmet economic expectations.
A series of polls show significant disapproval of Trump’s handling of inflation and cost of living — a vital issue for Americans grappling with economic uncertainty.
In the Navigator Research poll, Trump logged his worst net rating on the economy since 2018: a grim minus-13 percent.
Compounding Trump’s image problems is the volatile presence of Elon Musk, whose own popularity is dragging down public sentiment in adjacent political spaces.
Musk’s aggressive interventions in federal affairs and polarizing rhetoric have drawn widespread criticism, with 43 percent rating his performance very unfavorably.
Meanwhile, Trump’s controversial tariffs — once touted as economic salvation — are becoming a political liability. CBS reports that 64 percent of Americans say his actions on prices are “not enough,” while 73 percent fear that his policies will worsen consumer costs.
Should these expectations materialize, Trump’s already precarious standing may not just decline — it could plummet. (nymag.com with Additional Reports)
