` 9 Lowest Approval Ratings Trump Faced Since 2016 And How He Bounced Back Every Single Time - Ruckus Factory

9 Lowest Approval Ratings Trump Faced Since 2016 And How He Bounced Back Every Single Time

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Nine times since 2016, Donald Trump’s approval ratings have plunged into dangerous territory. Some were historic lows that would sink most politicians. Yet each time, he managed to recover.

From Gallup’s 35% reading in 2017 to his 37% second-term low in 2025, Trump has relied on rallies, executive orders, and relentless media presence. These moments reveal a unique political resilience. Let’s walk through each low point and see exactly how he turned it around.

# 9: Early First-Term Crash: 35% Approval

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In March 2017, Gallup recorded Trump at 35% approval, the lowest for any president so early in their first year. This came after Republicans failed to repeal Obamacare, a core campaign promise.

The defeat painted Trump as ineffective despite having a Republican-controlled Congress. Gallup noted this drop placed him below Nixon during Watergate and Reagan during Iran-Contra. The first real test of his presidency had arrived. The question was, could he recover?

How Trump Recovered From 35%

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Trump responded with an aggressive “permanent campaign” strategy, hitting the road with high-energy rallies that dominated TV coverage.

Republican lawmakers were invited to Mar-a-Lago for private talks, projecting unity. Executive orders on immigration and trade shifted headlines toward action instead of legislative failure. Within weeks, Gallup recorded his approval rising back into the low 40s. This set the tone for how Trump would fight back in every crisis to come.

# 8: Mid-Term Pressure: 37% Approval

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January 2018 brought more trouble. Pew Research found Trump’s approval had sunk to 37% amid the Russia investigation, tariff fears, and threats of a government shutdown.

Many independents abandoned him, with Pew reporting widespread public embarrassment over his conduct. Historically, such low ratings before midterm elections have spelled disaster for a president’s party. For Trump, the challenge was finding a way to reset the conversation.

How He Sold the Economy to Bounce Back

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Trump shifted the national focus to jobs and growth. He highlighted GDP gains and low unemployment, using media appearances and cabinet briefings to push his case.

Approval of economic management began to improve, even while overall ratings stayed weak. Celebrations of stock market highs and major corporate announcements gave him strong visuals to reinforce his message. This slow pivot laid the groundwork for his eventual ratings rebound.

#7: Second-Term Shock: 39% at 100 Days

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By April 2025, Trump’s approval hit 39%, according to Reuters/Ipsos polls — the lowest 100-day rating for any president since 1945. The fall followed his April 2 “Liberation Day” tariff plan, which rattled markets into bear territory. Polling found 72% feared a recession, while 71% blamed tariffs for inflation, overshadowing his promises of economic prosperity.

Using Executive Orders to Regain Momentum

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Trump responded with 143 executive orders in 100 days, surpassing Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1933 record. Pausing select tariffs on April 9 helped markets, with the S&P 500 seeing its biggest one-day jump since 2008. 

He delayed tariffs on Mexico and Canada, while immigration crackdowns pleased supporters. ICE arrests topped 65,000, border crossings fell to historic lows, and the political narrative began to shift.

# 6: Gallup’s Harshest Second-Term Number: 37%

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In July this year, Gallup pegged Trump’s approval at 37%, his lowest second-term figure and a historic low for any president in recent decades. Independent support plunged from 46% in January to 29%. 

Economic unease over tariffs and the lingering Epstein fallout fueled the drop, with 68% of independents disapproving of his financial management. The White House urgently needed a political win.

Policy Pivots to Stop the Bleed

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To counter the slump, Trump paused key “Liberation Day” tariffs and pushed the “One Big Beautiful Bill”, a sweeping package signed July 4, 2025. It permanently extended 2017 tax cuts, added $150 billion for border enforcement, and expanded ICE funding tenfold by 2029. 

Combined with high-profile rallies, the legislation aimed to show results, though most polls still found majority opposition.

# 5: Historic Inauguration Low – 47% Approval

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In January, Gallup showed Trump’s approval at 47%, making him the only modern president to start a term below 50%. Reuters/Ipsos confirmed a -1% net rating, highlighting deep national divisions. 

His 48% disapproval was three points higher than his first inauguration, marking a record for inaugural disapproval.

Response Strategy: Executive Order Initiative

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Trump’s team launched a record 26 executive orders on day one and 143 in 100 days total. This kept headlines focused on action. 

Despite the flurry of orders, approval dropped from 47% at inauguration to 43% by March, then continued sliding, showing no early bounce-back from the executive push.

# 4: CNN Poll Disaster: 41% Approval

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An April 2025 CNN/SSRS poll put Trump at 41% approval. Economic approval fell to 39%, with 72% predicting his policies would trigger a recession. Even immigration, once a strong point, dropped to 45%. Trump dismissed the results, publicly questioning the credibility of national pollsters.

Fighting Polls With Media Dominance

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Trump blasted pollsters as “criminals” and barred The Associated Press from White House briefings, favoring friendlier outlets. He timed tariff announcements and executive orders for maximum media impact, while rallies offered visuals of strong support. 

By focusing on curated coverage over unfavorable data, the administration aimed to shift public attention from polling lows to Trump’s policy agenda.

# 3: Reuters Slides to 40%

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In July, Reuters/Ipsos recorded Trump at 40% approval. Inflation hit 2.7%, job growth slowed, and Epstein scandal coverage lingered. 

Fifty-one percent said his economic policies caused more harm than good. Republicans stayed loyal at 83%, but Democrats gave only 3% approval. The gap was too wide to bridge, so Trump doubled down on his base.

Trying to Reset the Economy Story

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Trump toured factories in July, laying groundwork for corporate announcements. On August 6, he hosted Apple CEO Tim Cook, who pledged a $100 billion investment, bringing Apple’s total U.S. commitment to $600 billion over four years. 

This endorsement helped Trump’s growth claims, even as some firms, like Ford, reported tariff-related losses. Independents’ approval had already dropped to 29%.

# 2: The Current Low – 37% in August 2025

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Gallup’s August poll conducted July 7-21, 2025 showed Trump at 37%, his lowest second-term rating and near his all-time worst. Independent support plunged to 29%, down 17 points since January. Economic approval fell to 37%, federal budget approval to 29%. The Epstein scandal kept dragging his numbers down, placing him in a “danger zone,” according to polling experts.

How Trump Is Fighting Back from the Bottom

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Trump doubles down on calling pollsters “criminals,” using Truth Social to challenge bad polls. He pushes core policies like federal takeover of Washington D.C., cartel terrorism designations, and National Guard border deployments. 

# 1: The Absolute Low: January 2021 Collapse

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Trump’s approval hit a record low between 29% and 34% in January 2021 after the Capitol attack. Republicans’ support dropped from 83% to 75%, independents fell from 38% to 29%, and 95% of Democrats said he was undermining democracy. This 9-10 point drop was the largest of his presidency, marking a historic low.

The Remarkable Recovery

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By 2022, Trump’s favorability began rising as January 6 faded. Gains came from younger voters, nonwhite groups, and working-class Americans. Biden’s struggles and Trump’s legal challenges energized his base. His comeback ranks among the most remarkable in U.S. politics.

Nine Crashes, Nine Recoveries

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Donald Trump’s approval history shows a rare political roller coaster, plunging to historic lows before rallying back time and again. His strategy of combining relentless rallies, executive actions, and media control defies traditional political wisdom. 

Strong base loyalty and sharp messaging have helped him survive where others would fail. Whether this cycle will continue remains a defining question for his legacy.