how is trump doing as a president?

President Trump's current standing is dominated by a high-stakes conflict with Iran, where he is projecting a strategy of maximum military and economic pressure. He has initiated a full naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz [18, 26] and claims to have decimated Iran's military, stating it is "gone" [5, 15] and that 158 of its naval ships have been destroyed [6, 24]. His rhetoric is exceptionally aggressive, asserting the U.S. military is **"locked and loaded"** and threatening to destroy all of Iran's power plants and bridges if a diplomatic deal is not reached [7, 10]. This posture is underpinned by claims that Iran's missile stockpiles are "largely depleted" and its manufacturing capabilities are "largely defeated" [14, 16], painting a picture of a foe on the verge of total collapse. Despite this, U.S. troops are slated to remain in the Middle East for the time being .

Concurrent with these military threats, President Trump is advancing a narrative of impending diplomatic victory, though his messaging contains internal tensions. He has repeatedly and publicly claimed that **Iran contacted the U.S.** on the morning of April 13, 2026, expressing a desire to negotiate a deal [2, 13, 21, 30]. He has also suggested that peace talks could resume in Pakistan within 48 hours and that he foresees hostilities ending shortly . This optimistic outlook, however, is directly contradicted by his statement to ABC News that he is not considering extending the current ceasefire with Iran beyond its April 22nd expiration . This creates a dual narrative of an adversary that is both actively seeking peace out of weakness and simultaneously being given a final ultimatum before further military action.

Domestically, President Trump faces significant challenges in public perception, particularly regarding the economy. His approval rating has **fallen to a 36% low**, with a mere 29% of Americans approving of his handling of the economy . Another source cites a slightly higher aggregate approval rating of approximately 40% , but both figures indicate majority disapproval. This public sentiment contrasts sharply with the administration's self-portrayal of the U.S. as an energy superpower whose oil and gas production will double by next year [23, 25]. To bolster support, the administration is pursuing populist measures, such as eliminating the federal income tax on tips and staging a UFC fight at the White House [23, 27].