Trump’s Tariff Policies Come at a High Cost: Economic Approval Rate Hits New Low, GOP Warns of Party Rift

TradingKey - U.S. President Donald Trump’s relentless push to raise tariffs is not only threatening U.S. and global economic growth but also undermining his own presidential approval ratings, with support for his economic policies hitting a new low in his presidency. Meanwhile, there are growing calls within the Republican Party to halt the tariff war.

According to a CNBC report on April 19, the CNBC All-America Economic Survey found that due to widespread dissatisfaction with Trump's handling of tariffs, inflation, and government spending, his economic policy approval rating has dropped to its lowest level since he took office: 43% approval versus 55% disapproval.

This marks the first time in the CNBC survey that public opinion on Trump’s economic policies has turned negative. When Trump first came to power, many Americans pinned their hopes for sustained economic growth on the so-called "pro-business president," anticipating measures such as tax cuts and deregulation.

A source related to the survey noted that Trump was re-elected to improve the economy, but so far, people do not like what they are seeing.

In addition to opposition from trading partners like China and the European Union, as well as the Democratic Party, discontent with Trump’s tariff policies is also growing within his own Republican Party.

According to The Hill, Republican insiders revealed that GOP lawmakers have privately expressed dissatisfaction with Trump’s tariff policies and are seeking intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the tariff war.

These sources explained that lawmakers are hesitant to publicly oppose the president due to the high political cost. Instead, they hope the Supreme Court will intervene to uphold Congress’s constitutional authority over taxation.

Republican lawmakers, described as "angry but silent," view Trump’s policies as overly aggressive. If the economy were to fall into a recession, these lawmakers’ chances of re-election could be jeopardized.

Some Republicans fear that Trump’s tariff policies may become permanent, a move that is "tearing the party apart." The higher the tariffs, the lower the GOP’s approval ratings sink, and this could lead to a "bloodbath" for Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections.