President Donald Trump�s approval rating has dropped to its lowest point since his return to the White House, with just 42% of Americans approving of his performance, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday. The six-day survey, which concluded on April 21, marks a decline from 43% three weeks earlier and a fall from the 47% approval he enjoyed shortly after his January 20 inauguration. The dip in public support comes as Americans express growing unease over Trump�s tariffs and aggressive efforts to expand executive power.

A striking 83% of respondents, including 73% of Republicans, said the president must obey federal court rulings, even when he disagrees with them. This sentiment follows recent legal clashes, including a federal judge�s order halting deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members, which some Trump administration officials may have violated. Such actions have raised concerns about the rule of law, with 57% of respondents�including a third of Republicans�opposing Trump�s push to withhold funding from universities.

Trump�s handling of key issues also drew mixed reviews. On immigration, long a cornerstone of his political platform, 45% approved of his performance, while 46% disapproved. His ratings were notably weaker on inflation, taxation, and foreign policy, where disapproval outpaced approval. Only 34% approved of his handling of foreign policy, down from 37% in late March, with 59% of respondents saying the U.S. is losing credibility on the global stage.

The poll also captured public resistance to Trump�s more unconventional proposals. A majority�66%�opposed the idea of the president controlling cultural institutions like the Smithsonian or the Kennedy Center, where Trump has sought to exert influence by ordering the removal of �improper� ideology and installing himself as board chair. These moves have sparked criticism that Trump is overreaching his authority, a concern echoed by 49% of Americans who, in a separate survey, said they believe Trump wants to be �king of the United States.�

Economic concerns continue to weigh heavily on Trump�s approval. Despite his campaign promises to combat high prices, 70% of Americans expect his tariff policies to drive up the cost of groceries and other essentials, a sentiment that has intensified as the White House imposes steep levies on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. The S&P 500 has lost over $3 trillion in value since its peak last month, reflecting market jitters over a potential global trade war.

�Trump�s early actions seem to be alienating even some of his base,� said Kyle Kondik, an analyst with the University of Virginia Center for Politics. �While his immigration policies still resonate with many supporters, the broader public is skeptical of his economic moves and power grabs.�

Trump�s approval rating, while low, remains higher than much of his first term (2017-2021), when it dipped to 33% in December 2017, and outperforms his predecessor Joe Biden�s lowest rating of 35% in late 2024.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)