Trump Begins Term with Historic Low Approval Ratings

President Trump's approval ratings at the start of his second term are historically low, with Gallup reporting a 47% approval and 48% disapproval, marking him as the only president since 1953 with sub-50% initial ratings. Emerson College Polling shows similar trends with a 49% approval, albeit with a notable increase in the percentage of those who believe the country is heading in the right direction. Reuters/Ispos reports a slight decline to 45% approval following a week of executive orders, highlighting divisions over Trump's policies, particularly immigration and diversity initiatives. Compared to former presidents, Trump's ratings are significantly lower, with predecessors like Biden and Reagan entering office with over 50% approval ratings. Despite these numbers, Trump maintains strong support from Republicans but faces significant disapproval from Democrats and mixed views from independents.