Americans Losing Confidence in Trump’s Unpredictable Economic Policy Shifts

By Staff, Agencies

President Donald Trump’s shifting economic positions are fueling public frustration, particularly as he initially campaigned on promises of steady prosperity.

From threatening to fire the Federal Reserve chair to abruptly altering trade policies — especially with China — Trump’s unsteady approach has drawn increasing skepticism.

“There is no chance the US flip-flops on trade the past month were remotely planned,” said Joseph Grieco, a political science professor at Duke University, describing the administration’s moves as “one improvisation after another.”

A Pew Research Center poll conducted in early April showed that only 40 percent of Americans approved of Trump’s performance, down seven points from February. That figure placed him below most presidents at the 100-day mark, with the exception of Bill Clinton. Still, Pew noted Trump’s approval ratings remain consistent with those seen in 2017.

The same Pew survey revealed that nearly 60 percent of respondents disapproved of Trump’s trade policy. Meanwhile, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found that just 37 percent were satisfied with his handling of the economy — a stark drop for a president who once touted the economy as his strongest asset.

The downturn in public sentiment was echoed in a YouGov poll from early April, where 51 percent of respondents said they were dissatisfied with Trump’s economic policies — a four-point drop following a series of contradictory tariff decisions.

Markets have grown increasingly volatile, reacting to every off-the-cuff remark by Trump or his advisers. The president’s escalating attacks on Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell — whom he called a “loser” for not cutting interest rates — further shook investor confidence, though Trump later backed down and denied any plans to remove Powell.

The trade standoff with China remains unresolved. Trump claims the 145 percent tariffs imposed on Chinese goods will soon be scaled back, but without a clear White House strategy, uncertainty persists.

According to Gallup, 53 percent of Americans now expect their financial situation to worsen — a significant departure from the post-2001 norm of general optimism.

This growing unease may lead to reduced consumer spending, potentially dampening economic growth. However, Trump’s core supporters remain largely unmoved.

Pew reports that 70 percent of Republicans and right-leaning independents back his tariffs, while 90 percent of Democrats oppose them, underscoring the stark partisan divide in views on Trump’s economic leadership.