Donald Trump's First Year in Office Ends with Lowest Approval Rating

This is a record that no one wishes for. Donald Trump ends his first year in office with the lowest approval rating for any U.S. president. According to a report on Tuesday, January 16, by the Associated Press, results from a reputable Gallup poll show that Mr. Trump's average approval rating over the past year has been 39 percent. The lowest approval rating for U.S. presidents in their first year in office was held by Bill Clinton, who had 10 percent more than Donald Trump at around 49 percent. Recent polls indicate that most Americans believe Donald Trump is a divisive figure and even doubt his qualifications for holding this position. One reason for Donald Trump's approval and popularity is his management of economic affairs, but considering the good economic situation in the U.S., even this factor has not worked in his favor as expected. A recent weekly Gallup poll shows that in recent days, the president's approval rating remains at the same annual average level of about 39 percent. In contrast, at least 57 percent of respondents do not approve of his performance. Trump's low popularity throughout the year is unprecedented in the history of polling regarding the performance of previous presidents in their first year. Americans usually have a more generous view of any individual in their first year in office. However, in the case of Donald Trump, it shows that even in the best situation, or what is called the 'honeymoon period' of his administration, his maximum approval rating was 45 percent. Previous U.S. presidents have managed to overcome periods of declining popularity. For example, Bill Clinton's approval rating fell to 37 percent in June 1993, but he won in his second presidential election. Trump's approval rating is higher than the lowest approval ratings of several previous presidents, including Harry Truman, Richard Nixon, and Jimmy Carter, who fell below 30 percent. The Associated Press adds that there are still limited strengths left for Donald Trump. For example, according to another poll, 83 percent of Republican voters still support him. This same poll indicates that for many of these individuals, Donald Trump is seen as intelligent and powerful. At the same time, positive remarks regarding Trump's management of the U.S. economy are generally higher than his average approval rating. In a poll conducted in December by the Associated Press and the Norse Research Institute, support for Trump's economic policies was 8 percent higher than his overall performance as president, although his approval in the economic field was only 40 percent. Aside from economic issues, in other areas of government policy, the president's approval and popularity are lower. Public health has always been one of the lowest areas of Trump's popularity. In the December poll by the Associated Press and the Norse Research Institute, 70 percent of respondents opposed the president's policies in this area, and 85 percent said this issue was very important to them. In another poll conducted by the same two institutions at the end of 2017, only 23 percent of Americans said that Donald Trump had fulfilled his campaign promises. About 30 percent said he tried but failed, and 45 percent said he did not try at all to fulfill these promises. More than half of the participants in this poll said that the country's situation has worsened since Donald Trump took office. That poll was conducted before Mr. Trump signed the new tax bill into law, but there are few signs to prove that the approval of that law had a positive impact on the president's popularity. One of the polls conducted in January by Gallup shows that only 33 percent of Americans support the new tax law's approval.