How Trump’s Broken Promises Could Shift Congressional Control

President Trump’s first 100 days in office have yielded historically low approval ratings, signaling a clear lack of support for his actions among the American populace. Republican strategists are now urging Trump to shift his focus away from the turbulence surrounding tariffs and instead concentrate on delivering on the economic promises he made during his presidential campaign but not keep. 

The decline in Trump’s approval ratings can be attributed to his pursuit of restrictive trade policies and higher tariffs, which have sparked widespread concern among voters. There is growing apprehension that these policies could impact the outcome of the 2026 congressional elections, potentially resulting in a loss of the GOP majority.

When a political party loses the support of the ‘big middle’ of the electorate, swing races tend to shift away from them, and traditionally safe districts can unexpectedly become competitive. Recent polling data from Decision Desk HQ indicates that Trump’s approval rating stands at 44 percent, with 56 percent of respondents expressing disapproval of his performance. Additionally, a majority of voters (64 percent) believe that tariffs are detrimental to consumers, and a staggering 91 percent are concerned about inflation.

Many voters, disillusioned by rising costs and feeling that the country was on the wrong path under the previous administration, sought change in the last election. However, they did not anticipate nor support the changes that President Trump has implemented. It is evident that voters feel misled by Trump, as reflected in the latest polling data.

Democrats have an opportunity to capitalize on Trump’s declining approval ratings by highlighting his broken promises and misleading statements to voters. Trump’s policies, including tax breaks for the wealthy, cuts to veteran benefits, layoffs of federal workers without due process, reductions in Medicaid, and tariffs, are not resonating well with the American electorate. If these sentiments persist, voters may opt to replace Republican lawmakers with Democrats in the upcoming elections to steer the country back on course.