Mixed Feelings: Trump's Start in His Second Term

The first hundred days of Trump's second term have been a mix of expectations and disappointments for many Americans. The majority of people think he's focusing on the wrong things, and even some Republicans are unsure if he's got his priorities straight. About 4 in 10 Americans think he's been a "terrible" president so far, while only about 3 in 10 say he's been "great" or "good. " This is a tough start, but it's not surprising. Most people saw this coming, and Democrats are particularly unhappy. They thought he'd be bad, and so far, he hasn't proven them wrong. Republicans are mostly sticking by Trump, but they're not all thrilled with his choices. About 7 in 10 say he's been at least a "good" president, but only about half think he's focusing on the right things. Some are even starting to think he might be a "poor" or "terrible" president. This is a big change from how they felt in January. It seems like some Trump supporters are having second thoughts. They like that he's doing what he said he would, but they're not always happy with what that is. For example, some Republicans don't like how he's handling foreign affairs, like the situation in Ukraine. They think he's trying to fix things too quickly and that he's being too harsh.

Democrats and independents who were surprised by Trump's actions in his first few months are more likely to think he's got the wrong priorities and that he's been a poor or terrible president. This shows that people's expectations can really affect how they see a president's performance. It's like they say, "You get what you expect. " But it's not all bad news for Trump. About 4 in 10 Americans approve of how he's handling the presidency overall. And he's doing a bit better on the issue of immigration, with 46% approving of his handling of it. But he's got a lot of work to do on foreign policy, trade, and the economy. Republicans are less likely to approve of his approach to these issues than they are to immigration. This could be a problem for Trump as he tries to prove that his approach will benefit the country. It's normal for a president's approval to be highest before they take office and start governing. Trump is no exception. About 4 in 10 Americans have a favorable opinion of him, and among Republicans, that number is about double. About 8 in 10 Republicans have a positive view of the president, and about the same share approve of how he's handling the presidency. But Democrats have a much bleaker outlook on the economy than they did before Trump took office. They think he's "gone too far" on deportations and tariffs. Some Democrats even think things will be worse in four years than they are now. This is a tough criticism, but it's important to remember that presidents often face criticism, especially from the opposing party.

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