Trump Hit With Devastating Poll Numbers Amid Tariff Tantrum

The president, who calls himself the “tariff king,” may have to reconsider his title after the setbacks he suffered this week.

While the president vehemently attacked the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down his signature economic policy, ordinary Americans expressed relief at the ruling. A recent YouGov poll of 1,931 American adults found that 60% approved of the decision.

In a 6-3 decision issued Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump had exceeded his authority by imposing massive international tariffs without congressional approval.

Conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch, appointed by Trump, wrote a favorable opinion, arguing that legislation should not be decided by a single court.

“Certainly, legislating can be difficult and time-consuming,” Gorsuch wrote. “Certainly, the temptation may be great to bypass Congress when an urgent matter arises.” But the deliberative nature of the legislative process was at the very heart of its design. This approach allows the nation to benefit from the collective wisdom of its elected representatives, not that of a single faction or individual.

When asked by YouGov about the impact of Trump’s tariffs on their cost of living, 66% of respondents said his policies had led to higher prices. Only 5% reported a decrease, while 16% said there had been no change.

A report published this month by JPMorgan Chase reveals that mid-sized American companies have had to pass on the cost of Trump’s tariffs to American consumers.

Affordability is a major concern for voters heading into the midterm elections, and the YouGov poll contributes to the growing anxiety on this issue. Republicans have struggled to communicate on this issue, and the president has repeatedly downplayed its significance, calling it a hoax, even at events supposedly addressing the high cost of living and other everyday concerns.

A New York Times/Siena College poll conducted in January showed that a majority of Americans believe the middle class’s chances of accessing basic necessities—such as housing, healthcare, education, and retirement—are shrinking or even disappearing altogether. At the same time, middle-class Americans have reported resorting to desperate measures, such as selling blood plasma, to make ends meet.

As expected, the Supreme Court’s decision enraged Trump, who launched a vicious attack on the justices, calling them “puppets,” “a disgrace to our nation,” and “traitors to the Constitution.”

Shortly after the verdict, Trump announced his intention to impose a 10% global tariff, “effective immediately.”

He posted on TruthSocial: “It is a great honor for me to sign, from the Oval Office, a 10% global tariff applicable to all countries, effective almost immediately.”