'Shifted completely': Trump's signature policy shown to be 'dragging him down' with voters

The American public has soured dramatically on one of President Donald Trump's signature policies, according to a new analysis.

The president campaigned on imposing tariffs on U.S. trading partners and launched his trade wars soon after returning to office, but after months of on-again, off-again duties that spiked consumer costs and rattled markets, CNN's Harry Enten said polling showed support for those policies has evaporated.

"This is a topic onwhich the American people haveshifted significantly and theyhave shifted significantlyagainst tariffs," Enten said. "I mean, thisjust gives you an indication, Imean, just look at the shiftover the last year when Donald Trump was elected back in November of 2024, 52 percent of Americans favored new tariffs onimported goods, 48 percent opposed.Look at this switcheroo now: Bylate October of 2025, the clearmajority, 62 percent, opposed newtariffs. That favor number hasabsolutely plummeted, down a 38 percenton the key policy that Donald Trump has been pushing since thebeginning of this second term.The American people have shiftedcompletely against the presidentof the United States."

Enten also found evidence that tariffs were dragging down the president's overall approval rating.

"This issue is dragging Donald Trump downbecause why what are we justlooking at here?" Enten said. "Trump's netapproval rating on trade tariffsin January. He was okay, right, it was doing okay. It was minus-two points, but in thispolitical environment and thefact that polls oftentimesunderestimate Donald Trump, thisain't too bad of a number. Lookat where we are now: minus-24 points,a shift of 20 points away fromthe president of the United States. I was looking at dataaround this point in his firstterm. This is double digitsworse as well as he was at thispoint on trade and tariffs aswhere he was in term number one.At this point, the Americanpeople have moved againsttariffs, and they have definitelymoved against Donald Trump whenit comes to tariffs."

"The question iswhy – what's cooking?" Enten added. "Why arethe folks moving against Donald Trump? Why are they movingagainst tariffs? I mean, thisjust gives you an indication – saytariffs affect on prices in theshort term increase in March,72 percent, 72 percent of Americans believedthat tariffs raise prices in theshort term. In March, you comeover to October, Donald Trump'sbeen making the argument and the American people ain't buying it, ain't buying it – 71 percent. It is awfully difficultwhen the number one issue in thecountry right now is inflationis affordability, and folksbelieve that a signature policyof yours increases prices. Thatis no bueno, that is no good. Nowonder Americans are movingagainst tariffs and movingagainst Donald Trump's tariffs. As I said at thebeginning, it is dragging himdown."

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