Story perspectives

Trump’s Approval Hits 32% Low, Gen Z Disapproval 76%

4/24/2026

Summary

Trump Approval Plummets

President Donald Trump’s approval fell to second-term lows in April 2026, reaching 36 % in the Reuters/Ipsos poll (April 20).
The AP-NORC poll (April 16-20) recorded 33 % approval and 70 % of respondents said the economy was poor.
American Research Group (April 16-20) reported a 32 % approval and 63 % disapproval rating, the lowest of the term.
NBC News Decision Desk (April 19) found 76 % of Gen Z disapproved, while a Marquette poll showed Republican approval at 18 %.

Summary

Trump Tariffs Rise

President Donald Trump’s tariffs raised the import tax rate from 2% to nearly 12%.
The labor market added 181,000 jobs in 2025, lowest since 2003, with unemployment at 4.3%.
GDP grew 0.5% in Q4 2025 while a survey sees a 45% recession chance, as consumer sentiment fell to 47.6 in April 2026—the lowest in 74 years—and gasoline prices rose above $4 per gallon after the Feb. 28 attack on Iran.

History

Historical Context

The Great Recession, triggered by the subprime mortgage crisis, officially began in December 2007 and peaked with unemployment reaching 10% in October 2009. Despite the recession ending in June 2009, economic recovery was sluggish, with real GDP growth hampered by high debt levels and restrained government spending. Today, 70% of Americans still view the economy negatively, reflecting the recession's enduring impact on public sentiment and political leadership.

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Trump Approval Plummets

President Donald Trump’s approval fell to second-term lows in April 2026, reaching 36 % in the Reuters/Ipsos poll (April 20).
The AP-NORC poll (April 16-20) recorded 33 % approval and 70 % of respondents said the economy was poor.
American Research Group (April 16-20) reported a 32 % approval and 63 % disapproval rating, the lowest of the term.
NBC News Decision Desk (April 19) found 76 % of Gen Z disapproved, while a Marquette poll showed Republican approval at 18 %.

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