Donald Trump's Strong Disapproval Rating Surges

Newsweek - Apr 8th, 2025
Open on Newsweek

Donald Trump's disapproval ratings have surged, reminiscent of November 2018 when Republicans lost the House of Representatives. According to CNN pollster Harry Enten, Trump's disapproval now stands at 43 percent, slightly higher than the 42 percent in 2018. This decline coincides with Trump's controversial 'Liberation Day' tariffs, which have unsettled financial markets and sparked protests nationwide. The tariffs, including a 10 percent baseline on all imports, have drawn criticism for possibly triggering inflation and a recession, with economists and financial analysts expressing concerns over the economic fallout.

The political landscape is shifting as Democrats capitalize on Trump's waning popularity and renewed public resistance. Protests against Trump and his policies have intensified, with large-scale demonstrations organized by over 150 groups. The Democrats' improved performance in special elections signals a potential advantage in the upcoming 2026 midterms. Amidst this backdrop, Trump's ability to push through his agenda hangs in the balance, with Republican lawmakers potentially reconsidering their support. The economic and political implications of the tariffs and Trump's declining approval could reshape the U.S. political scene in the upcoming election cycles.

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RATING

6.2
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a timely and relevant overview of key political and economic issues, focusing on Trump's approval ratings and the potential impacts of his tariff policies. It effectively engages with topics of public interest, offering insights into the current political landscape and economic risks.

However, the article's overall quality is somewhat limited by a lack of detailed source attribution and transparency, which affects its credibility. While it presents a balanced perspective, it could benefit from incorporating more diverse viewpoints and providing more context for complex economic concepts.

Despite these limitations, the article successfully captures reader interest and has the potential to influence public opinion and spark meaningful discussion. Its coverage of controversial topics and current events ensures its relevance and engagement potential, making it a valuable contribution to ongoing political and economic debates.

RATING DETAILS

6
Accuracy

The article presents several factual claims, such as Trump's disapproval ratings, economic impacts of tariffs, and public sentiment towards his policies. These claims are supported by references to specific pollsters and surveys, like CNN pollster Harry Enten and a Fox News poll. However, the article would benefit from direct citations or links to these sources for verification.

The story accurately reflects the general trend of Trump's fluctuating approval ratings and the potential political implications. However, the precision of some statistics, such as the exact percentage of disapproval ratings and market reactions, requires further verification. For instance, the claim that Trump's disapproval rating is now 43% compared to 42% in 2018 needs to be substantiated with current polling data.

There are potential inaccuracies in the economic predictions and market reactions. The article states that Trump's tariffs announcement caused significant market turmoil, but it does not provide specific data or sources to support this claim. Additionally, the economic forecasts by Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan need to be confirmed through their official reports.

Overall, while the article provides a comprehensive overview of the situation, it lacks the necessary precision and source support to fully validate its claims. More direct references to data and expert analysis would enhance its factual accuracy.

7
Balance

The article attempts to present a balanced view by including perspectives from both supporters and critics of Trump's policies. It discusses the potential negative economic impacts of tariffs, citing concerns from economists and market analysts, while also presenting Trump's defense of his actions and his economic achievements.

However, the article leans slightly towards highlighting the negative consequences of Trump's policies, such as potential market turmoil and increased disapproval ratings. The voices of those who support the tariffs or believe in their potential benefits are less prominent.

The story could improve its balance by incorporating more viewpoints from Republican lawmakers or economists who support Trump's economic strategies. This would provide a more comprehensive understanding of the diverse opinions surrounding the issue.

Overall, the article provides a reasonably balanced perspective, but it could benefit from a more equitable representation of differing viewpoints to avoid any perceived bias.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear in its presentation, with a logical structure that guides the reader through the main points. It begins with a discussion of Trump's approval ratings, moves on to economic policies, and concludes with public sentiment and political implications.

The language used is straightforward, making the content accessible to a broad audience. However, the article occasionally introduces complex economic concepts, such as tariffs and market reactions, without sufficient explanation, which may confuse readers unfamiliar with these topics.

There are some areas where the article could improve clarity by providing more background information or definitions of key terms. For example, explaining the concept of "stagflation" or the significance of "Liberation Day" tariffs would aid comprehension.

Overall, while the article is mostly clear and well-structured, it could benefit from additional explanations of complex terms and concepts to ensure all readers can fully understand the content.

5
Source quality

The article references several sources, including CNN pollster Harry Enten, economists, and market analysts like Jim Cramer. However, it lacks direct citations or links to these sources, which affects the credibility and reliability of the information presented.

The use of unnamed or general references, such as "economists" or "polls," without specific attribution, weakens the authority of the claims. For instance, while the article mentions a Fox News poll, it does not provide detailed information about the poll's methodology or specific findings.

The inclusion of named experts, such as Jonathan Aronson and Frederic Mishkin, adds some credibility, but the lack of direct quotes or detailed context for their statements limits the strength of their contributions.

To improve source quality, the article should provide more detailed attributions and direct links to the original data or reports. This would enhance the transparency and reliability of the information presented.

6
Transparency

The article provides a general overview of the issues surrounding Trump's approval ratings and economic policies, but it lacks transparency in terms of methodology and context for some of its claims.

While the article mentions specific pollsters and economic analysts, it does not disclose the methodologies used in the polls or the economic forecasts. For example, the Fox News poll's margin of error is mentioned, but other details about the sample size or polling period are missing.

The article also lacks transparency in its discussion of market reactions and economic predictions. It references significant market turmoil and increased recession odds without providing detailed data or sources to support these claims.

Improving transparency would involve providing more context for the claims, such as explaining the basis for economic predictions or detailing the methodologies of the polls cited. This would help readers better understand the foundation of the article's assertions.

Sources

  1. https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3921
  2. https://news.gallup.com/poll/203198/presidential-approval-ratings-donald-trump.aspx
  3. https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/favorability/donald-trump/