The first 100 days of Trump 2.0

It has been nearly 100 days since President Donald Trump was inaugurated a second time. A lot has changed. A lot continues to change. We must examine and know this new America to maneuver this reality. So, the question is: where is the American public right now?

Below are five charts recapping President Trump’s first 100 days: how presidential approval, the main issue, government downsizing, the U.S.’ global standing, and the uncertainty people feel have changed during this time.

1. Dip in approval. Historically, presidents tend to see slight drops in approval between their 1st and 100th day in office. Indeed, Trump has seen a decline in approval rating, particularly among independents. What goes up must come down.

2. Political extremism vs. the economy. The big issue for Americans in 2024 was the economy, specifically inflation and high prices. But now, 100 days in, Americans overall have grown increasingly worried about political extremism and threats to democracy, a concern that is driven by Democrats but is also up among independents. So much so that worry about political extremism has overtaken the economy as the main issue. What is this fear? It is in part a fear of authoritarianism, and in part a reaction to the friction caused by bumping up against norms, practices, and laws. Shifting sands.

3. Downsizing the government. The broad idea of reducing the size of the federal government is relatively popular; a majority of Americans support this idea. Yet, far fewer Americans support the specific measures Trump has taken to get there. The public holds nuanced and sometimes conflicting positions on the same topic. Nuance and understanding are key to navigating these changing times.

4. Global standing. Amid Trump’s tariff battles, perceptions of the U.S.’ role in global affairs have declined significantly compared to before the election, especially among the U.S.’ largest trading partners. In 2017, the U.S. experienced a similar dip in reputation. Though, this time around the drop is more pronounced.

5. Uncertainty. More than anything, the first 100 days of Trump 2.0 have been defined by uncertainty: uncertainty around tariffs, uncertainty around the federal government, uncertainty around immigration, uncertainty over the federal court system. Americans, regardless of age, income, partisanship, urbanicity, education, or race and ethnicity have been feeling this uncertainty acutely.

One hundred days into President Donald Trump’s presidency, this is a New America that business leaders, decisionmakers, and legislators must know to effectively lead during this time.

But, how do you do that during so much uncertainty? It is critical to listen to citizens, learn about the situation on the ground without making assumptions, and then craft an effective response from there.

Knowing the New America means being attuned, attentive, and nimble throughout a changing country.