As he approaches his 50th day back in the White House, President Donald Trump is emphasizing his administration’s rapid progress, declaring that America is “back.”
In an interview on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, Trump highlighted the fast pace of his presidency, stating that his team has been working tirelessly to implement his agenda.
On Monday, the White House reinforced this message with an email release titled “50 Wins in 50 Days: President Trump Delivers for Americans.”
The statement outlined several of Trump’s key accomplishments since his inauguration on January 20, many of which have sparked both support and controversy.
Mixed Public Opinion on Trump’s Second Term
While the administration touts its early successes, national polls suggest Americans remain divided on Trump’s presidency.
Surveys conducted by Reuters/Ipsos, CNN, and NPR/PBS/Marist ahead of Trump’s recent address to Congress show his approval ratings in negative territory. However, other polls indicate more favorable numbers for the president.
Trump, who has always paid close attention to public opinion, took to social media on Monday to celebrate what he described as his “Highest Approval Ratings Since Inauguration.”
While polling results vary, his approval numbers in this term are notably stronger compared to his first presidency when he started in negative territory and struggled to recover throughout his four years in office.
Despite this improvement, there has been a slight dip in recent weeks. The average of national polls currently shows Trump’s approval rating slightly above water, though it has declined since late January when he first returned to office with numbers in the low 50s.
Veteran Republican pollster Neil Newhouse noted that Trump’s current numbers remain stronger than at any point during his first term. “His Republican base is still strongly behind him,” Newhouse told Fox News.
Political analyst Daron Shaw echoed that sentiment, highlighting a major difference between Trump’s first and second terms.
“In 2017, he struggled with some Republicans, but now, the party is completely solidified behind him,” said Shaw, a politics professor at the University of Texas and a member of the Fox News Decision Team.
Aggressive Policy Moves and Executive Orders
Since returning to office, Trump has moved at an aggressive pace, implementing a flurry of executive actions that have left a significant mark on federal policies.
In just seven weeks, he has signed 89 executive orders—far surpassing the rate of his predecessors in their early days.
Among his most notable actions are a strict immigration crackdown, imposing steep tariffs on key trading partners like Canada and Mexico, and dramatically shifting U.S. foreign policy.
https://www.instagram.com/joebiden/p/C5g6TCAPTUe/This includes freezing aid to Ukraine and engaging in tense discussions with the country’s leadership.
Newhouse believes these bold moves have unsettled the Democratic Party. “He has flooded the zone with his policies and thrown Democrats into disarray,” he observed.
He also pointed out that while Trump’s approval numbers have dipped slightly, they haven’t translated into gains for Democrats, whose favorability ratings remain weak.
Challenges Ahead: Inflation and Public Perception
Despite a stronger start compared to his first term, Trump still faces significant challenges. His approval ratings remain lower than those of his recent predecessors at the same point in their presidencies.
Shaw noted that neither Trump nor former President Joe Biden enjoyed the traditional “honeymoon period” that past presidents typically experienced upon taking office.
“Biden started his presidency with approval ratings in the low-to-mid-50s, but they declined sharply after the Afghanistan withdrawal, rising inflation, and the border crisis,” Shaw explained. “He never recovered from that.“
For Trump, inflation remains a crucial issue. According to the Reuters/Ipsos poll, only one in three Americans approve of his handling of the cost of living. Shaw warned that this could become a major obstacle.
“If prices remain high, he’s going to have trouble,” Shaw stated, emphasizing that economic concerns played a key role in Trump’s return to the White House.
As Trump moves forward, his ability to navigate these economic challenges while maintaining support from his base will be critical in shaping the trajectory of his second term.
