(MENAFN- The Rio Times) President Donald Trump is entering the toughest stretch of his second term, with his national approval rating sinking to 38% – a nine-point drop from the 47% he enjoyed when he returned to power in January.

The slide leaves him close to the lows of his first presidency and not far from the weakest numbers recorded by his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden. Behind that erosion is a simple, kitchen-table reality: Americans remain angry about the cost of living.

Only about one in four voters say Trump is handling everyday expenses well, while roughly two-thirds – including a significant slice of Republicans – say he is failing on this front.

Inflation has cooled from its post-pandemic extremes, but for families who watched food, rent and services climb for years, the sense of being squeezed has not gone away.

Trump's signature response has been protectionist: higher tariffs on imported goods to favor domestic production. That message resonates with voters who feel abandoned by globalized supply chains. But it has also contributed to higher prices.



His recent decision to cut import taxes on staples such as coffee, beef and bananas is a recognition that, whatever the ideological appeal of tariffs, consumers judge him by supermarket receipts, not slogans.
Epstein files test Trump's credibility
At the same time, the Jeffrey Epstein affair has become a test of transparency and trust. Congress – including Republicans – forced through a bill demanding the release of Justice Department files on Epstein, after months of resistance from the White House.

Trump's late change of heart looked reactive, not principled, and only one in five Americans approve of how he has handled the case. A solid majority believes the government is still hiding names.

Trump remains overwhelmingly popular within his own party, with approval above 80%, and voters still tend to see Republicans as stronger on economic policy than Democrats. But weakening support at the margins matters.

A president who cannot convincingly answer anger over prices and suspicions over secrecy risks not only losing seats in Congress, but also undermining Washington's authority abroad – on trade, security and the global economy that countries like Brazil depend on every day.

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