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)