Trump’s First 100 Days: Economic Turmoil, Record-Low Approval, and the Fallout of Tariff Wars

Trump's First 100 Days: Trump's Approval Rating Hits Historic Low

According to an ABC News/Washington Post poll, President Donald Trump ended his first 100 days of his second term with the lowest approval rating of any U.S. president in the past 80 years — just 39%.
His aggressive use of executive authority and controversial economic policies have sparked widespread concerns about a potential recession and growing public opposition to his tariff-driven trade wars.

The DOGE Government Efficiency Initiative

On Inauguration Day 2025, Trump launched the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) through executive order.
Led by Elon Musk, DOGE was tasked with slashing federal spending and streamlining government operations until July 4, 2026.

DOGE claims to have saved taxpayers $160 billion through initiatives such as contract cancellations, liquidation of unnecessary assets, fraud prevention, and workforce reductions.

However, critics argue the program is causing more harm than good.
The Partnership for Public Service estimates DOGE actions could cost taxpayers $135 billion this fiscal year due to expenses related to paid federal furloughs, wrongful terminations requiring rehires, and decreased overall productivity.

Moreover, DOGE faces scrutiny for its broad access to sensitive government data and its targeted elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Despite these controversies, several states have adopted their own DOGE-inspired efficiency initiatives, albeit through more calculated and committee-driven approaches compared to Musk's aggressive federal model.

Trump's Approval Slumps Across Key Demographics

Trump's 39% approval rate after 100 days shattered his previous record low of 42% in 2017.
Other polls echoed this trend: CNN reported 41%, NBC and CBS showed 45%, and Fox News registered 44% approval.
Trump thus becomes the only modern president to begin two terms with approval ratings under 50%.

The decline is particularly stark among critical voter groups from the 2024 election:

• Approval among women fell by 7 points, down to 36%.

• Support among Hispanic Americans plummeted to 28%.

• Independents now disapprove by a large margin (37% approve vs. 51% disapprove).

While Trump's Republican base remains solid (91% approval), the broader numbers reflect intensifying public dissatisfaction with his economic policies and leadership style as he embarks on his second term.

Market Chaos Triggered by Trump's Tariff Announcements

On April 2, President Trump announced sweeping tariffs during what he dubbed "Liberation Day," sparking one of the most severe market downturns since World War II.

The S&P 500 plunged over 10% within just three days, erasing trillions of dollars in market value and falling below 5,000 points for the first time in nearly a year.
Volatility was further amplified when false reports of a tariff delay temporarily triggered an 8% surge in just 30 minutes — only to collapse again after a White House denial.

Financial experts warn that the economic impact will extend far beyond short-term market reactions:

• GDP could contract by 0.8% to 6% depending on the economic model.

• Consumer prices are expected to rise 2.3%.

• The average American household could face an additional $3,800 annually in costs.

Lower-income households will be disproportionately affected, facing an effective income reduction 2.5 times greater than higher-income groups.
Despite the grim projections, Trump insists the tariffs will be a "total victory" if sustained for another year, arguing that they will boost domestic manufacturing.

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