Trump 1 Year Approval TANKS Over Economy, ICE Raids

One year into his second term, Donald Trump's approval on economic handling has seen a significant decline. While he closed his first term with majority economic approval, current polling shows a substantial drop. This decline is a major concern for Republicans, who are urging the White House to prioritize 'affordability' over abstract foreign policy discussions.

AP NORC (Jan 8-11) found 37% approval on economy; Reuters Ipso (Jan 12-13) found 34% approval on economy and 30% on inflation. Wall Street Journal polls were slightly higher at 44% (economy) and 41% (inflation). Republicans view economic vulnerability as a key midterm cycle risk, begging the White House to focus on 'affordability,' which Trump has dismissed as a 'hoax.'

Despite campaign promises of aggressive immigration and border security, Trump's broad approval on immigration has declined. While border security maintains slim majority approval, the actual enforcement actions by ICE are generating significant public disapproval. The hosts argue that the 'shocking' nature of these enforcement tactics, such as ICE raids and incidents like a fatal shooting in Minneapolis, creates a disconnect between abstract support for policies like 'mass deportations' and the discomfort with their real-world implementation.

NBC News reports Trump's immigration approval declined since taking office. Fox and AP NORC found slim majority approval on border security, but worse ratings on 'immigration as a separate issue.' Quinnipiac polling found 57% of registered voters disapproved of how ICE enforces immigration laws, and CNN found 51% of adults believe ICE enforcement makes cities 'less safe.'

The 'abolish ICE' movement, initially a symbolic critique of Trump's immigration policy, has evolved into a literal demand for the agency's dismantling. This shift is driven by public discomfort with ICE agents' perceived 'thuggish' behavior and disrespect for civil liberties, leading to increased support for literal abolition.

The hosts explain that the movement initially symbolized opposition to Trump's overall immigration policy. Now, 'when they say abolish ICE, they mean it quite literally that it is a rogue agency... that needs to be broken up.' Polling shows that when asked 'should you abolish ICE?', the American people are 'very close' to a plurality saying 'yes,' indicating increasing support.

Trump's foreign policy decisions have not garnered public support, with a majority of Americans believing they have damaged the country's global standing. His approval rating in this area has declined since the start of his term, indicating widespread dissatisfaction with his international approach.

NBC News reports Trump's foreign policy approval hovered around 40%, a decline from the mid-40s. A late October NBC News poll found 53% of registered voters felt his administration fell short on foreign policy expectations. A new CNN poll found 57% of adults think Trump's foreign policy decisions have hurt America's standing in the world, while only 31% said they helped.