President Donald Trump speaks with reporters after announcing a trade deal with the United Kingdom in the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday, May 8, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Likely fueling the modest increase in the president's overall approval rating is his performance on the economy. The new poll indicates 39% of adults nationwide give Trump a thumbs up on how he is handling the economy, up three points from last month.
The new poll was conducted amid this week's surge in the stock markets following a truce between the U.S. and China in their tariff standoff, and in the wake of last week's signing of an initial trade deal with the United Kingdom – which is the first since Trump implemented massive tariffs on friends and foes across the globe six weeks ago.
WHAT'S IN THE TRADE TRUCE WITH CHINA
Trump's blockbuster tariff announcement in early April sparked a trade war with some of the nation's top trading partners and triggered a massive sell-off in the financial markets and increased concerns about a recession.
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An average of the latest national surveys puts the president's approval rating underwater by around four points, but that is a slight improvement from late last month.
The economy, and inflation in particular, were pressing issues that kept former President Joe Biden's approval ratings well below water for most of his presidency, and which greatly contributed to Trump's White House victory last November.
They were behind Trump's slide in the polls so far this year.
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"Trump’s return to office did not begin as he and his supporters had hoped. Campaign promises about inflation and interest rates appeared deferred while the daily news coverage focused on the many distractions plaguing the White House," longtime political scientist and analyst Wayne Lesperance noted.
However, Lesperance, president of New England College, said that "signs of progress may be emerging. Possible trade deals with Britain, China, and India are providing hope that some good may come from his tariff strategy. Add to that a rebounding stock market and lower gas prices at the start of summer vacation season and the president may see some calming of public nervousness."
Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in the swing state of New Hampshire. He covers the campaign trail from coast to coast."
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rise-new-poll-indicates-trumps-approval-ratings-edging-up