How to be a loser in 100 days

Donald Trump’s first 100 days in his second term have yielded an historically low approval rating of 41%, the lowest in nearly eight decades, reflecting widespread public dissatisfaction. Polarising policies, economic challenges, and governance missteps have estranged large segments of the American populace. This article will dissect the factors contributing to this discontent, examining the mainstream narrative and underlying dynamics.

Economic Policies and Tariffs: A Double-Edged Sword

Trump’s aggressive tariff policies, a cornerstone of his “America First” agenda, have been a major driver of his unpopularity. He imposed sweeping tariffs, including a 25% tariff on Canadian-made cars and a 125% tariff on Chinese imports, while over 75 other countries faced reciprocal levies starting at 10%. These moves were intended to boost U.S. manufacturing, with some polls like the Washington Post-ABC-Ipsos survey noting that most Americans believed tariffs would create manufacturing jobs. However, the economic fallout was immediate and severe. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1,000 points due to fears of a trade war, marking its worst April since 1932, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. Gallup polls indicated the worst economic confidence since 2001, with 53% of Americans feeling their personal finances were worsening. The Economist/YouGov poll showed Trump’s net approval on the economy plummeting from a 12-point advantage to a 12-point deficit – a swing of about a quarter of the electorate.

Critically, Trump’s tariffs hit his own voter base hard. A Reuters survey highlighted voters like Steve Egan, a Trump supporter and promotional product salesman, whose business was disrupted by the tariffs. This reflects a broader trend: while Trump’s base largely stuck with him (94% of his 2024 voters still supported him), even they began to feel the pinch, with 43% of non-college-educated white men – a key demographic – saying the economy had worsened under Trump. The establishment narrative often frames this as a policy failure, but there’s a deeper issue: Trump’s focus on tariffs ignored the immediate needs of voters, who prioritised inflation and cost of living (60% cited this as their top concern in polls). His failure to address these concerns directly, despite campaign promises, eroded trust, especially among independents (33% approval, 58% disapproval per the Washington Post-ABC-Ipsos poll).

Mass Deportations and Immigration: A Divisive Gamble

Trump’s immigration policies, particularly his mass deportation program, were initially a strength, with 55% approving of his border security measures. However, the aggressive rollout – described as the largest deportation operation in U.S. history – began to backfire. The Economist/YouGov poll noted that 11% of Trump voters disapproved of his deportation policies, and for the first time, he was underwater on immigration (47% approval, 48% disapproval per Fox News). The policy led to labor shortages, with employers struggling to find low-cost workers.

The establishment narrative often paints Trump’s immigration stance as a populist win, but the reality is more complex. While his base appreciated the hardline approach, the broader public, including independents and younger voters saw it as excessive.

Governance Style and Overreach: Alienating Moderates

Trump’s governance style, marked by a reliance on executive orders and a perceived overreach of authority, further damaged his standing. He signed more executive actions in his first 100 days of this term than in 2017, a move criticised by 51% of Americans in a Pew Research survey for setting too much policy via executive order rather than working with Congress. A Trump voter, George Mastrodonato, quoted in the CNN poll, likened Trump to “Yosemite Sam, blasting off with two guns in both hands,” reflecting frustration even among supporters that many of his orders were overturned by courts for lacking legal grounding. The Economist/YouGov poll found that 49% of Americans believed Trump wanted to be “king of the United States,” and only 26% thought he respected democratic institutions – a stark contrast to the 62% who felt the country was headed in the wrong direction per AP-NORC.

This perception of overreach was compounded by Trump’s radical restructuring of the federal government, including slashing entire agencies and government jobs. While 44% approved of these cuts per Pew, 55% disapproved, and 59% called the approach “too careless,” believing it would cost Americans money in the long run. The establishment often highlights these moves as fulfilling campaign promises, but they overlook how the chaos – described as “lurching reboots” – projected instability, alienating moderates and independents who value steady governance.

Foreign Policy Shifts: A Risky Pivot

Trump’s foreign policy, particularly his tilt toward Russia and feuds with allies like Canada and Mexico, also contributed to his low approval. His confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 28, 2025, and his decision to roll back support for Ukraine were deeply unpopular, with 45% of Americans viewing Russia as an enemy and 61% seeing Ukraine as a friend or ally per Economist/YouGov. Even 38% of Republicans saw Russia as an enemy, revealing a disconnect between Trump’s policies and his party’s base. His tariffs on Canada and Mexico further strained relations, with 25% of Trump voters disapproving of these moves per Post/Ipsos findings. This foreign policy pivot, combined with his withdrawal from post-World War II alliances, was seen as weakening the U.S. internationally – 49% of Americans said Trump’s policies put the U.S. in a weaker position per Pew, compared to 39% who saw a stronger stance.

The establishment narrative often frames Trump’s foreign policy as a bold break from tradition, but it’s clear this approach alienated more voters than it attracted, particularly among those who valued America’s global standing. His focus on Russia over traditional allies clashed with public sentiment, further eroding his approval.

Economic and Social Disruption: A Broader Backlash

Beyond specific policies, Trump’s first 100 days were marked by broader disruption that fueled public discontent. His tariffs and trade wars rattled financial markets, with Wall Street experiencing its worst single-day loss since the pandemic er. This economic instability, paired with fears of a recession (72% of voters were worried per Fox News), hit Trump hard on an issue where he was traditionally strong. His approval on the economy dropped to 38% (56% disapproved per Fox News), and on inflation, it was even worse at 33% (59% disapproved). The NBC News Stay Tuned Poll found that 55% disapproved of Trump’s overall job performance, with strong negative emotions like “angry” and “furious” outweighing positive ones like “happy” and “thrilled.”

Socially, Trump’s policies, such as cutting federal funding for research on cancer and Alzheimer’s, and his administration’s feud with Harvard over its tax-exempt status, added to the perception of a presidency more focused on retribution than progress. Posts on X described Trump as “destroying consumer confidence” and “sabotaging American science and medicine,” though these reflect individual sentiments rather than conclusive evidence. These moves, paired with his mass deportations and government cuts, painted a picture of a chaotic administration, with 60% of Americans saying Trump was out of touch with their concerns.

Demographic Shifts and Polarisation

Trump’s approval saw notable declines among key demographics. Women and Hispanic Americans dropped 7 points each to 36% and 28% approval, respectively, per the CNN poll. Among white people without a college degree, a core part of his base, approval fell 10 points, and among adults under 30, it dropped 13 points per the Washington Post-ABC-Ipsos poll. Independents, a crucial swing group, were particularly negative, with 62% saying Trump was out of touch and 76% feeling the same about the Democratic Party, indicating broader dissatisfaction with the political establishment.

Conclusion: A Perfect Storm of Missteps and Expectations

Trump’s record-low approval in his first 100 days stems from a perfect storm of economic disruption, governance overreach, and foreign policy missteps that alienated moderates, independents, and even some of his base. His tariffs, while ideologically driven, ignored voter priorities like inflation, leading to economic fallout that hit his approval hard. His mass deportations and government cuts, though popular with his core supporters, were seen as excessive by the broader public, and his foreign policy – particularly his Russia tilt – clashed with American sentiment. Combined with a chaotic governance style and a polarised nation, these factors created a steep decline in approval, with pollsshowing a clear public backlash.

Dear reader, we need your support

Independent sites such as The AIMN provide a platform for public interest journalists. From its humble beginning in January 2013, The AIMN has grown into one of the most trusted and popular independent media organisations.

One of the reasons we have succeeded has been due to the support we receive from our readers through their financial contributions.

With increasing costs to maintain The AIMN, we need this continued support.

Your donation – large or small – to help with the running costs of this site will be greatly appreciated.

You can donate through PayPal or credit card via the button below, or donate via bank transfer: BSB: 062500; A/c no: 10495969