Trump at 100 Days

As President Donald Trump’s presidency hits the 100-day mark, there are significant warning signs on important issues like the economy and the cutting size of the government. President Trump is earning higher marks than his first term in 2016, NBC News Polls say, which overall is boosted by merging Republicans behind their president.

While the first 100 days of a president's term doesn’t determine the rest of the presidency, the period may foreshadow the president's achievements, priorities, and problems that may arise during that term. President Trump has recently lost ground on the economy, with more voters expressing their resentment with how he is handling inflation and with his forceful push for global tariffs. This has messed up the stock market and clambered global alliances.

Trump, concerned about the rise in prices, was one of the main reasons he won the 2024 election, he said himself on NBC News’ “Meet the Press”. Just a couple of months into his term, there are indications that Americans are wavering on him handling this key issue he said he would fix.

President Trump’s economic approval rating in both the April CNBC All- America Economic Survey (43%) and the March NBC News poll (44%) is hovering near the lowest marks in NBC News’ CNBC polling of Trump‘s first and second terms combined. Trump's tariff proposals have influenced the global economic discussion and induced a significant reaction in the stock market and in business planning.

Polls often show Trump faring best on immigration and border security when respondents are asked to rate his handling of this variety of issues. Some surveys find that a small majority give him positive marks. A Wall Street Journal survey found a majority of registered voters favored deporting “suspected foreign gang members” to El Salvador without any court hearings to figure out their gang memberships, while 43% opposed that policy.

"While Trump may feel he’s on favorable ground when arguing about immigration with Democrats, there are obvious risks to pushing it too far," says Chris Anderson.

The same poll found that while a majority of registered voters supported detaining and deporting millions of undocumented immigrants, almost two-thirds opposed deporting them if they had lived in the United States for 10 or more years, without any criminal records or paid taxes on earnings.

The beginning weeks of Trump’s second term were largely interpreted by an effort to majorly reduce the size of the federal government, led by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency.

Musk indicated that his work for DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) may be winding down. A Fox News poll found registered voters divided over whether DOGE will lead to a more efficient government or improvements in the changing economy. Studies found that 59% of adults say Trump’s tried approach to cutting federal departments and agencies is too careless.

“He was much better at convincing Americans about the failings of the Biden administration than he was about the successes or lack thereof of his first 100 days,” Lee Miringhoff said.

President Trump has also tried hard to push in his first 100 days to get rid of federal programs that are related to diversity, equality, and inclusion, and some surveys have shown and found those efforts haven’t been a custom either. The NBC News Stay Tuned poll found that 61% of adults disagree with Trump's handling of DEI efforts, while 39% agree and approve. Nearly two-thirds said DEI programs in workplaces and schools are helpful to the country and are used, while the other 35% disagreed. At a rally last summer after the rally, President Trump promised peace between Russia and Ukraine only if he won the election.

 “Before I even arrive at the Oval Office, shortly after I win the presidency, I will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine settled,” President Donald Trump told a National Guard Association conference in Detroit in August. At those times, he framed the promise differently, he would end the war in only one day. That day has not come yet.

Nearly half of voting Americans say that they have changed their purchasing habits and decisions due to Trump’s administration's tariff changes and actions. 21% say that they sped up making their final decision. 28% said that they delayed making their decision. Another 51% say tariffs have not affected their decision-making.

85% of Americans say they strongly or somewhat agree that Trump should need to obey federal court rulings even if it’s not in their favor and if they don’t like it. This statistic includes 79% of Republicans and 84% of independent voters.

Elon Musk’s likeness begins to sink as he gives his opinions out more supporting Trump's ideas. 37% of Americans have expressed that they have a favorable view of the opinions that Musk presents, down from 39% in March. That big change is mirrored by the public opinion on the Department of Government Efficiency, which was massively favored in this poll by 36%.

            In January when Trump got into office, he signed nearly 40 executive orders. He also froze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans that fund an array of critical services.

In February of this year a DOGE attack on our government began. Also, the Trump administration transferred immigrants to Guantanamo Bay. Also, the Trump Administration issues executive orders sanctioning the international criminal court, and the Trump Administration threatens school funding over DEI. In late February,the president began attacks on the legal profession and President Donald Trump's attacks on healthcare bio- medical research and the arts.

In March, Trump targeted school students and scholars for deportation for political speech. Trump attempts to dismantle the Department of Education. Trump invoked the alien enemies act and he tried to restrict voting rights.

In April, the Trump Administration withheld grants for reproductive health care. The ACLU sued the Trump Administration for banning books and altering curricula in schools and in military bases.