Donald Trump, who once heralded the dawn of a new ‘golden age’ during his presidency, now faces a turbulent period marked by significant challenges. Recent polling by Daily Mail/JL Partners reveals a drop in his approval rating to 45 percent, a decline of six points since the previous survey and a full 10 points over the past two months. Ironically, the very policies that once bolstered his re-election efforts seem to be contributing to voter disillusionment.

Key areas of voter dissatisfaction include Trump’s strategies on the economy, immigration, and his general governance style. Healthcare issues also loom large, highlighted by the administration’s difficulties in extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are slated to expire soon. The poll, conducted between November 19 and 20, is slightly more favorable than other surveys, with Trump’s economic approval ranging from 36 to 42 percent. Surprisingly, there’s been a four-point dip in his net approval concerning ICE operations, indicating that stringent immigration measures may have their limits with the electorate.

In response, the White House defended its record, emphasizing that Trump has fulfilled numerous campaign promises and continues to strive for more achievements. According to spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, Trump’s accomplishments include border security enhancements, tackling inflation, reducing drug prices, eliminating taxes on tips and overtime, and prioritizing American workers through significant reforms. However, a progressive Democratic strategist offers a contrasting narrative, arguing that Trump has failed to address core issues, particularly criticizing his tariff policies for exacerbating economic troubles and suggesting worse conditions lie ahead.

‘Many have asked when would people see it’s ‘Don the Con’ and the answer is now and we haven’t hit rock bottom,’ Bradley Beychok with American Bridge told the Daily Mail. Trump has boasted about his tariffs and said that his economic policy is improving the lives of everyday Americans. But voters in the Daily Mail/JL Partners November 19-20 poll disagree. Those who say inflation is their top issue give Trump only a 40 percent approval rating and those who put economic growth at the top of their list give the president 44 percent approval.

Americans don’t seem to agree on a large scale that Trump is helping boost the economy as much as his administration claims he has, according to the poll. Hispanic and young voters represent the largest demographic who are abandoning their support for Trump, with just 36 percent among each demographic. Additionally, only 24 percent of black voters approve of Trump. ‘We’re watching the immigrant community be policed and surveilled inhumanely and without regard,’ immigration attorney Benjamin Peña said on the declining approval amid nationwide ICE operations. ‘I think that if you’re witnessing what’s happening, the human element plays a key role.’

The economic impact is really what’s touchy for voters. At the end of September, inflation was at 3 percent, a slight uptick from 2.9 percent the month prior. While this is a moderately elevated inflation rate, its near the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent target after peaking at over 9 percent in 2022. But Americans’ say their pocketbooks are still hurting as the price of goods are surging with the sweeping tariffs Trump imposed on nearly every country this year. Since Trump’s tariffs took effect, apparel and textiles are up between eight and 17 percent and groceries and food are up between 1.6 percent 2.8 percent – with some products at a whopping 25 percent increase.

It got so bad that Trump had to place some exceptions on consumables like coffee and bananas. Now Trump is promising a $2,000 tariff stimulus check to help middle and lower income Americans – though its unclear where the exact avenue in which this would be done. Additionally, subsidies for Obamacare are on the brink of running out even though Republicans promised they would negotiate on extension with the end of the government shutdown. This was one of the sticking points with one-time MAGA darling Marjorie Taylor Greene (pictured), who just announced after he breakup with Trump that she’s retiring mid-term in January. 

Those who approve of the president point to Trump’s record on border security and improving crime and safety as the top reason they maintain a positive view of the administration. This was the cornerstone of his 2016 ‘build the wall’ campaign and reemerged as a top issue in 2024 after record-breaking illegal immigration during former President Joe Biden’s single term and a spike in violent crime in the US. In September, Trump had the highest approval rating of the Daily Mail’s polling at 55 percent. But now in November’s poll, that’s the same number of voters who disapprove of the job he’s doing as the president nears his one-year anniversary of being back in office. In mid-October the polling had Trump at 51 percent approval.

Only 36 percent of people aged 18-29 approve of Trump’s presidency and the same percentage goes for Hispanic voters. With an overall margin of 10 percent among all 1,246 respondents, voters are becoming increasingly disenfranchised by Trump’s approach to politics. Specifically, 41 percent of those who disapprove of the president say the way Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been tasked with enforcing Trump’s immigration agenda is why they don’t support the current administration. An immigration attorney in New York speculated to the Daily Mail that it’s likely not ‘many Trump supporters imagined ICE operations would be this brutal on the immigration community.’ ‘I think these factors are slowly impacting even those who supported Trump. If his approval rating has been impacted, that could very likely be the reason why,’ Pena said.