One Month into Inauguration, Trump's Approval Rating at 47%... Only 3 out of 10 View Musk Positively

Opposition to Job Performance Surpasses Support in CNN and WP Polls
92% of Respondents Say "Recent Food Prices Are Negative"
Politico: "Decline in Approval Ratings Attributed to Musk"

A survey found that President Donald Trump's approval rating, one month into his term, reached the highest level compared to his first administration but declined compared to before his inauguration. Negative opinions prevailed regarding the activities of Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and a close aide to Trump, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

According to a poll conducted by CNN and SSRS from the 13th to the 17th among 1,206 American adults, released on the 20th (local time) with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points, 47% of Americans support President Trump's performance so far, while 52% oppose it.

Donald Trump, President of the United States. Photo by UPI Yonhap News

This is the highest approval rating compared to the first Trump administration's CNN polls, which peaked at 45% (May 2020, March 2017). However, it is a decline compared to before his inauguration. A CNN poll released in January showed Trump's approval rating at 55%.

Regarding the remainder of Trump's second term, 54% of respondents were pessimistic or fearful, surpassing the optimistic outlook of 46%. In a December survey last year, 52% were positive and 48% negative, showing a reversal in two months.

More than half of respondents (52%) felt that President Trump was excessive in using presidential and administrative powers, while 47% disagreed. Fifty-one percent also considered policies such as federal agency closures and budget cuts by the Trump administration to be excessive. Regarding price reduction policies, 62% said they were insufficient.

Only 28% had a positive view of the decision to appoint CEO Musk as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, while 54% were negative. Fifty-three percent opposed the closure of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Fifty-eight percent opposed Trump's Gaza plan, which involves evicting Palestinian residents from Gaza and having the U.S. occupy and develop the area.

CNN stated, "The warm reception President Trump received in the poll may be fleeting."

In a poll conducted by The Washington Post (WP) and Ipsos from the 13th to the 18th among 2,601 American adults, released on the same day with a margin of error of ±2.1 percentage points, 43% of respondents supported President Trump's governance over the past month, while 48% opposed it.

By policy, immigration had the highest support at 50%, followed by the economy at 45%, and federal government management at 44%. Especially amid a recent more than 15% surge in egg prices, 92% expressed negative views on food prices. Only 26% evaluated the recent economic situation positively, while 73% viewed it negatively.

Forty percent of respondents believed President Trump acted within presidential authority after inauguration, while 57% said he exceeded his authority.

Regarding tariffs imposed on Mexico, Canada, and China, 59%, 64%, and 45% opposed them respectively, while 35%, 31%, and 50% supported them. Sixty-nine percent expressed concerns that imposing tariffs on these three countries would raise prices. Opinions that tariffs on these countries would benefit American workers and businesses were only 31% and 35%, respectively.

Thirty-nine percent agreed with mass layoffs of federal employees, while 58% opposed. Regarding the closure of USAID, 38% agreed and 59% opposed. Only 29% supported federal program budget cuts without congressional approval.

The WP survey also showed significant negative opinions toward CEO Musk. When asked about Musk's role in the federal government, 34% approved and 49% disapproved.

Only 26% supported Musk's decision to discontinue federal government programs he deemed unnecessary, while 52% opposed. Sixty-three percent were concerned about the Department of Government Efficiency accessing databases containing Americans' social security, Medicare, and tax information.

Political media outlet Politico commented on the CNN and WP poll results, saying, "President Trump's honeymoon may be ending," and noted, "One reason for the decline in approval ratings is that in both surveys, a majority of respondents said the president abused his authority in the federal government reorganization efforts led by CEO Musk."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.