A recent survey by the Pew Research Center indicates that a strong majority of Americans believe the Trump administration should cease any actions deemed illegal by federal courts.
The survey, conducted from April 7 to April 13, 2025, involved 3,589 adults and aimed to gauge public opinion on President Donald Trump’s administration as it nears its 100-day milestone.
As Trump’s second term approaches this significant mark, approval for his job performance has slumped to 40%, a 7 percentage point drop since February.
While his staunch supporters continue to give him favorable ratings, a significant portion of the public holds negative views toward several key policies enacted by his administration.
Specifically, 59% of respondents expressed disapproval regarding the administration’s tariff increases, and 55% disapproved of the cuts being made to federal departments and agencies.
Furthermore, a majority (51%) of Americans feel that Trump is utilizing executive orders excessively, with only 27% believing he is using this authority appropriately.
This survey aligns with the backdrop of Trump’s April 2 announcement of extensive new tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners, which prompted several days of volatility in both U.S. and global stock markets.
Interestingly, public opinion regarding the economy and tariffs remained largely stagnant during the survey’s conducted period from April 7 to April 13.
With many of the administration’s actions currently being challenged in federal courts, there exists a bipartisan consensus that the Trump administration should comply with federal court decisions.
An overwhelming 78% of respondents concurred that the administration must adhere to a ruling from a federal court, a figure that rises to 88% in the instance of a Supreme Court ruling.
This sentiment crosses partisan lines, with 91% of Democrats and 65% of Republicans agreeing that an action would need to be stopped if ruled illegal, increasing further to 95% of Democrats and 82% of Republicans should the ruling come from the Supreme Court.
However, the survey unveiled pronounced partisan differences regarding evaluations of Trump’s overall performance and specific policy issues.
Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, at least seven in ten approve of Trump’s job performance (75%), governmental cuts (78%), increased tariffs (70%), and the cessation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies at the federal level (78%).
In stark contrast, significantly larger majorities of Democrats and those leaning Democratic reported disapproval:
93% disapproved of Trump’s job performance, 89% were against the cuts to government, 90% disapproved of the raised tariffs, and 86% expressed dissatisfaction with the elimination of DEI policies.
When analyzing approval ratings, Trump’s 40% rating aligns similarly with his approval level at the same point during his first term, though it remains lower than those of other recent presidents.
Among all Trump predecessors dating back to Ronald Reagan, only Bill Clinton recorded a lower approval rating (49%) at the 100-day mark in April 1993.
In comparison, President Joe Biden saw an initial 59% job approval rating in April 2021, although this figure would significantly decrease to 44% by September of that year.
As part of the survey, respondents were also prompted to articulate what they admired and disapproved of most regarding Trump’s early presidency.
Trump’s immigration policies emerged as a notable point of favor, with 20% of Americans identifying immigration as what they appreciate most about the administration,
while 7% specifically pointed to deportation actions.
Conversely, immigration actions were also highlighted by 11% as the primary issue they like least about the administration.
Another common thread identified was the approach to governing.
Roughly 22% expressed negative sentiments regarding certain aspects of Trump’s governing techniques, with terms such as “carelessness”, “authoritarian”, and “dictator” being frequently mentioned.
However, 11% of Americans noted that Trump’s commitment to keeping promises and “getting things done” was what they liked most about his administration.
When it comes to tariffs and government cuts, at least one-in-ten Americans viewed tariffs and trade policy (15%) and government cuts (11%) unfavorably, while significant shares also view these actions positively (6% and 9% respectively).
In terms of the cuts to the federal government, a notable 59% believe the administration has been “too careless” in its implementation.
Additionally, many respondents expect these cuts will likely have detrimental effects, with 51% foreseeing a decrease in governmental efficacy while only 36% anticipate improvements.
Most respondents (48%) worry that the funding cuts will ultimately cost Americans more money over time, while only 41% believe these cuts will result in long-term savings.
As economic sentiments evolve, the survey indicates a growing pessimism about the economy’s future among Americans.
While evaluations remain steady compared to February, 45% now believe the economy will worsen over the next year, a rise from the previous 37%.
Confidence in Trump’s economic decisions has also waned, with only 45% of respondents expressing faith in his decision-making skills regarding the economy—his lowest rating on this metric in Pew Research surveys since 2019.
Notably, Trump’s economic ratings still surpass those of Biden during his presidency, with 48% expressing confidence in Trump’s immigration approaches—his highest-rated issue according to the survey.
About 50% of Americans now feel that Trump’s policies are harming the U.S. standing globally when compared to Biden’s policies.
In contrast, nearly 40% assert that Trump’s policies are strengthening the U.S. position internationally, indication of sharply divided perspectives on his foreign policy.
When addressing public perception of the Republican and Democratic parties, it appears there has been a recent positive shift in views toward the GOP.
Currently, 43% of Americans view the Republican Party positively, demonstrating an upward trend over the past year.
Meanwhile, only 38% maintain a favorable view of the Democratic Party, marking little change from previous years.
Overall, this survey highlights significant divisions among the American public regarding the Trump administration’s policies, with an overarching demand for legal compliance amidst ongoing controversies and an evolving economic outlook.
image source from：https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2025/04/23/trumps-job-rating-drops-key-policies-draw-majority-disapproval-as-he-nears-100-days/
