As President Donald Trump marks his 100th day in office, recent polls, such as those reported by NBC News, suggest a mixed reception of his second term, with approval ratings slipping and concerns over issues like the economy and immigration. However, a closer examination reveals that these polls are misleading, failing to capture the underlying success of Trump’s policies and the growing optimism among Americans. Far from the pessimism highlighted in mainstream narratives, evidence points to a nation energized by Trump’s bold agenda and economic achievements.
According to the NBC News Stay Tuned survey, 55% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s job performance, with only 45% approving. The poll highlights disapproval on economic issues, with just 40% approving of Trump’s handling of inflation and trade policies like tariffs. Similarly, a CNN poll notes a decline in approval to 41%, and a Washington Post-ABC-Ipsos poll pegs it at 39%. These numbers, however, are skewed by methodological flaws and biased framing that obscure Trump’s successes.
First, polls often oversample partisan Democrats or independents who lean left, inflating disapproval ratings. The NBC News poll, for instance, shows 93% of Democrats disapproving of Trump, while only 7% approve—a stark partisan divide that suggests a lack of representative sampling. Independents, a critical group, are reported to disapprove by 68%, but this figure likely overrepresents urban, left-leaning respondents who are more likely to respond to surveys. In contrast, Trump’s core base—working-class Americans, particularly white men without college degrees (54% of whom believe the country is on the right track)—is underrepresented in these datasets.
Second, the framing of poll questions often emphasizes negatives. For example, the NBC News poll asks about “emotions Trump evokes,” with responses like “angry” and “furious” outweighing “happy” and “thrilled.” This approach primes respondents to focus on emotional reactions rather than policy outcomes, skewing results toward pessimism. When asked about specific policies, such as immigration or border security, Trump’s approval often rises—49% in the NBC poll approve of his border policies, and 44% support his efforts to curb diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Polls fail to account for the lag between policy implementation and public perception. Trump’s aggressive tariff policies and government downsizing, while disruptive in the short term, are designed to yield long-term economic benefits. The public’s initial unease, as captured in polls, reflects discomfort with change rather than failure. Historical data supports this: Ronald Reagan’s early economic reforms faced similar skepticism in 1981, yet by 1984, his approval soared as the economy rebounded.
Contrary to the polls’ gloom, Trump’s economic policies are already showing tangible results. His tariff strategy, criticized for potentially raising prices, has spurred negotiations with over 100 countries, as noted by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. These talks aim to rebalance global trade, reducing the U.S. trade deficit and boosting domestic manufacturing. Early indicators suggest success: the Nasdaq recovered from a reported slump, a fact underreported by media outlets. This market rebound signals investor confidence in Trump’s pro-growth agenda.
Moreover, Trump’s push to shrink the federal government has streamlined operations, cutting bureaucratic red tape that stifles innovation. While polls highlight disruptions, such as busy signals at the Social Security Administration, these are temporary growing pains. The long-term goal—reducing government spending and reallocating resources to the private sector—is already fostering job creation. Unemployment remains near historic lows, and consumer spending, a key economic driver, has held steady despite tariff concerns.
The pessimism surrounding tariffs is also overstated. While 59% of Americans in the Pew Research Center poll disapprove of tariff increases, 51% in a Washington Post-ABC-Ipsos poll believe they will create manufacturing jobs. This duality reflects a public that supports Trump’s vision of economic self-reliance but is wary of short-term price hikes. Yet, historical data from Trump’s first term shows that tariffs on China led to negligible inflation while boosting U.S. industries like steel and aluminum. The current strategy, paired with tax cuts and deregulation, is poised to replicate this success.
Immigration, long Trump’s strongest issue, continues to resonate despite pollsters’ attempts to highlight opposition. The NBC News poll notes that 49% approve of Trump’s border security measures, and a CBS/YouGov poll from February found 59% supporting his deportation program. However, polls often cherry-pick divisive specifics, such as visa revocations for anti-Israel protesters (59% oppose) or deporting long-term, law-abiding immigrants (nearly two-thirds oppose). These questions obscure broad public support for Trump’s overarching goal: securing the border and prioritizing American citizens.
In reality, Trump’s immigration policies are restoring order to a system strained by years of lax enforcement. His reinstatement of Title 42 and plans for mass deportation have deterred illegal crossings, with early reports indicating a decline in border apprehensions. By mobilizing agencies like ICE and the IRS, Trump is ensuring accountability, targeting criminal elements first while addressing broader illegal immigration. The public’s support for these measures, when framed holistically, far outweighs the selective opposition highlighted in polls.
Optimism Abounds Among Americans
The narrative of a pessimistic America is a media-driven myth. Among Republicans, 80% believe the country is on the right track, and 89% of MAGA-aligned voters share this optimism. Even among independents, 27% in an AP-NORC poll see the nation heading in the right direction—a significant uptick from Biden’s final months, when only 18% rated the economy positively.
Trump’s 2024 election victory, capturing 94% of Republican votes and key battlegrounds, reflects a mandate for change. Social media platforms like X are abuzz with posts praising Trump’s decisiveness, from his pardons of January 6 defendants to his foreign policy realignments, such as pressuring Russia and Ukraine toward peace. These actions resonate with Americans tired of establishment inertia.
Consumer behavior further debunks the pessimism myth. Despite reported concerns about tariffs, retail sales data from early 2025 show robust demand, particularly in manufacturing-heavy states like Michigan and Ohio. Americans are spending, businesses are hiring, and entrepreneurs are adapting to new trade realities, signaling confidence in the economy’s trajectory.
Pessimists, largely Democrats and left-leaning independents, argue that Trump’s policies risk economic instability and social division. They point to lawsuits against his agenda—nearly 200 apparently—and judicial rulings halting actions like federal funding freezes. Yet, these legal challenges are par for the course for transformative presidencies. Franklin Roosevelt faced similar opposition during the New Deal, yet his reforms reshaped America for decades. Trump’s willingness to confront the judiciary, as Vice President JD Vance has suggested, reflects a commitment to his mandate, not a constitutional crisis.
Critics also overstate the risks of government cuts. While 55% in a Pew poll disapprove of agency reductions, 41% believe they will save money in the long run. The disruption at agencies like the Social Security Administration is temporary, and the broader goal—eliminating waste and restoring fiscal discipline—aligns with the priorities of taxpayers. The pessimists’ focus on short-term chaos ignores the structural reforms that will benefit future generations.
The claim that Trump’s tariffs will spark inflation is speculative. Economists argue that targeted tariffs, coupled with deregulation, will lower production costs and offset price increases. The pessimists’ reliance on fearmongering contrasts with the optimism of manufacturers, who are already planning expansions in anticipation of Trump’s “America First” trade policies.
The polls cited by NBC News and others misrepresent the reality of Trump’s second term. Methodological biases, negative framing, and a failure to capture long-term impacts distort public sentiment. In truth, Trump’s economic and immigration policies are laying the foundation for a stronger, more self-reliant America. Far from pessimistic, Americans—especially Trump’s base and swing-state voters—are optimistic about a future free from bureaucratic overreach and open-border chaos. As the economy grows and Trump’s vision takes hold, the polls will eventually catch up to the reality of a thriving nation.
