After 100 days of political chaos and economic shock that have sent his approval ratings tumbling, Donald Trump hopes to regain the unqualified adulation of his supporters Tuesday at one of his signature events: a public rally.
To mark the symbolic milestone of his second term, the Republican US president is visiting the site of one of his final campaign events in Michigan, a key battleground state that swung his way in last November's election.
"The first time, I had two things to do — run the country and survive. I had all these crooked guys," he said in an interview with The Atlantic, referring to advisors and cabinet members he considered incompetent or disloyal during his first term.
"And the second time, I run the country and the world," he crowed, adding, "I'm having a lot of fun."
Many of the former real estate tycoon’s supporters remain loyal.
"He knows what he's doing," said Karen Miner, a 57-year-old wine store owner in Reno, Nevada.
‘No equal’
"So far, I'm very satisfied with the job he's doing," said Frank Tuoti, a 72-year-old retired machinist from New Hampshire — though he admits the tariff instability has left him "a little concerned about the economy."
On Monday, Trump railed against predecessor Joe Biden’s economic policy, boasting on his Truth Social platform that he would reverse the country's fortunes.
"The USA lost Billions of Dollars A DAY in International Trade under Sleepy Joe Biden. I have now stemmed that tide, and will be making a fortune, very soon," he wrote.
Trump's chief spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, said that Tuesday morning’s press briefing would focus on the economy, following one on Monday that addressed the administration's migration policies.
"No one does it better than President Trump. There is no equal — it's not even close," said Tom Homan, who oversees the mass deportation program widely criticized by opponents and rights groups.
Now surrounded exclusively by loyalists, Trump has, since January 20, acted with increasing freedom — especially on tariffs, foreign policy, and political retribution.
In the White House entrance hall, he has replaced a portrait of Barack Obama, America’s first Black president, with a painting depicting himself surviving an assassination attempt.
In the Oval Office, the president — known for his brash taste — has filled the historic room with gold ornaments.
Sinking approval rating
Pushing the boundaries of presidential power, Trump has already signed more than 140 executive orders.
Among other actions, he has questioned birthright citizenship, targeted universities and law firms, rolled back environmental protections, tasked billionaire ally Elon Musk with dismantling parts of the federal bureaucracy, and launched a protectionist trade offensive — which he later partially walked back.
Many of these executive orders have been blocked by the courts, prompting an unprecedented standoff between the executive and judiciary branches.
Trump, whose political career has been fueled by division, cannot claim the traditional honeymoon period of high approval ratings typically seen in a US president's first 100 days.
Opinion polls consistently show a sharp drop in public support, driven by concern over tariffs and his confrontational stance toward democratic institutions.
According to a Washington Post/ABC News poll published Sunday, just 39 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s performance.
Except for Bill Clinton — and now Trump — every president since Ronald Reagan has enjoyed approval ratings above 50 percent after their first 100 days, according to the Pew Research Center.
Trump dismissed the polling results as "Fake News" in a Truth Social post on Monday."We are doing GREAT, better than ever before," he boasted.
‘Too far’
Fully 64 percent of respondents said Trump is "going too far" in his attempts to expand presidential powers.
It remains uncertain how long Trump — at 78, the oldest US president ever elected — can maintain his frenetic pace.
He has already shown signs of impatience. During the campaign, he promised to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. Now, he reportedly finds the complex diplomacy frustrating.
When reminded in a recent Time magazine interview of his vow to end the war on "day one," the former reality TV star replied:
"Obviously, people know that when I said that, it was said in jest."
By Aurélia END / AFP
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