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President Donald Trumps second-term strengths look different from his first, according to recent polling. Once strengthened by economic issues, Trump’s approval is now relatively low on the economy and he’s leaning on his stronger issues of crime, border security, and immigration. Concerns about the economy and immigration helped propel him to the White House, but polling over the past year shows that Americans’ faith in the Republican president’s handling of the economy is low, particularly among independents, and his approval on immigration has fallen slightly. Now, Trump’s strongest issues are border security and crime, but there were signs of potential weakness on crime in the most recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. At the same time, Trumps overall approval has been fairly steady in AP-NORC polling since the beginning of his second term in January. This month, 39% of U.S. adults approve of how Trump is handling his job as president, which is back in line with his average approval rating after a slight uptick in August. There was a similar pattern during his first White House term, when his approval stayed within a narrow range. Here are the issues on which he’s been strongest and weakest in his second term: Trumps biggest strengths are border security and crime Trump has turned border security into a strength of his second term, a sharp reversal from his first term in office. Most U.S. adults approve of Trumps approach to border security, according to the poll. He gets higher marks on that than on his handling of the presidency overall or other issues that had previously been top strengths, including immigration and crime. This has also emerged as a unique strength of his second term. Only about 4 in 10 U.S. adults approved of Trumps approach to border security in 2019, during which time Trump was focused on securing money for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. His approval on immigration is slightly lower than it was early in his second term, but it remains a bit higher than his overall job approval. In March, about half of U.S. adults approved of his handling of immigration. The most recent measure found his approval on immigration at 43%, a tick higher than his overall approval rating. Even with the slight dip, immigration remains a strength in a way it was not in his first term, when closer to 4 in 10 U.S. adults approved of his immigration approach. When he started his second term, it was about half who approved. Trump has taken steps to deport immigrants who are living in the United States illegally, and the recent poll finds a sizable share of Americans about half say Trump has gone too far in pursuit of that goal. That is roughly the same share as held that stance in a poll conducted in April. His approval on how he is handling crime is down slightly to 46%, after reaching 53% in August as he deployed the National Guard in the District of Columbia. But that still exceeds his overall job approval, and it also is an advantage among certain groups such as independents. About 4 in 10 independents approve of Trumps approach to crime, compared with 25% who approve of his approach to the presidency overall. Trump is weaker on the economy with independents The economy is often a fraught point for presidents, and there are indications that Americans continue to be concerned about the countrys economic state. Just 37% of U.S. adults approve of Trumps handling of the economy. That is down slightly from August, when 43% approved, but broadly in line with his overall approval. The economy is a particularly weak issue for Trump among independents. Only about 2 in 10 independents approve of how Trump is handling the economy, much lower than the share who approve of his handling of border security and crime. In Trumps first term, closer to half of U.S. adults approved of his handling of the economy. This height of his success on this issue came at the beginning of 2020, right before the COVID-19 pandemic sparked an economic downturn. His approval on this issue varied throughout the pandemic, and about half of U.S. adults approved of his economic approach just before he lost the 2020 presidential election. At that point, however, more were more worried about the coronavirus pandemic than the economy. His approval has been consistently lower in his second term. When he came into office, only about 4 in 10 approved of how he handled the economy. Trumps lowest issues among Republicans: Trade and health care About 7 in 10 Republicans approve of Trumps approach to trade negotiations with other countries and health care, marking the lowest issue ratings among his base. While he has a majority approval among Republicans on those issues, it falls short of his much higher approvals on topics such as border security and crime. Overall, U.S. adults are not thrilled about how he is handling these issues, either. Only about one-third approve of how Trump is handling either trade negotiations with other countries or health care. These have been steadily low in recent AP-NORC polls but roughly track with Trumps overall approval. They were also similarly low in his first term. About 6 in 10 U.S. adults say Trump has gone too far when it comes to imposing new tariffs on other countries. That includes about 9 in 10 Democrats but also roughly 6 in 10 independents and 3 in 10 Republicans. Very few people, including Republicans, want Trump to go further on imposing tariffs. Trump is earning lower marks on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Some 37% of U.S. adults approve of the way Trump is handling the conflict between the sraelis and the Palestinians, down from the 44% who approved in March. Slightly fewer Republicans approve of how Trump is handling the conflict 72%, compared with 82% of Republicans who approved of the way Trump was handling the issue in March. Democrats are also slightly less likely to approve: 9% now, down from 14% in March. Despite this, Trump’s approval on foreign policy has been steady. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults approve, in line with April. ___ The AP-NORC poll of 1,183 adults was conducted Sept. 11-15, using a sample drawn from NORCs probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points. Linley Sanders, Associated Press
Category:
E-Commerce
Michaels announced Wednesday it is bringing back a slice of Joann fabrics, as it’s opening two store-in-store experiences: “The Knit & Sew Shop” and “The Party Shop at Michaels.” The “Knit & Sew Shop is now available in all Michaels stores across the U.S. and Canada, featuring the Joann name and logo as a dual-branded shop, with a curated assortment of threads, sewing notions, and yarnwith fabric also available in most stores. The selection will also include the Big Twist yarn collectionhitting shelves at the end of Octoberwhich was a favorite among Joann’s loyal customers, and was part of Michaels’ purchase of Joanns intellectual property (IP). “The Knit & Sew Shop” will feature new in-store services, including fabric-cutting tableswhich will be available in more than 650 stores by mid-Octoberand new sewing machines. Michaels now carries fabric in over 840 stores, with plans to expand to over 250 more locations. According to the retailer, it will dedicate nearly 25% more space to fabric and expand its yarn selection by 25% this year “to meet strong customer demand.” The Texas-based company acquired the beloved fabrics retailer’s IP and private brands, including Big Twist, in June, after Joann closed all of its stores following a second bankruptcy. [Photo: Michaels] By reviving the fabric and craft stores brand name, Michaels is hoping to make it the destination for crafters. “The launch [is] a transformative step forward on our mission to become the go-to destination for fueling creativity and celebration,” Michaels CEO David Boone said in a statement. Over on Reddit, some former Joann customers are visibly excited about Michaels’ new offerings. “Am I really at Michael’s?! Or am I dreaming? Doth my eyes deceive me, or am I really seeing KC yarn for sale in a Michael’s?!” one user wrote, referencing a yarn brand formerly sold at Joann. However, not everyone is happy about Michaels’ latest moves. In particular, some Joann loyalists are debating whether the moves can be seen as Michaels attempting to steal former Joann customers, with one writing in this Reddit thread, “I dont hate Michaels . . . That being said, I would argue that they are trying to be Joanns (As well as Party City!).” The Party Shop at Michaels, which follows Party City’s collapse in late 2024, features an expanded selection of party supplies, including balloon bars and in-store parties for kids. Party City said it was forced to close its doors last February because of inflation and changes in consumer spending, after filing for bankruptcy twice.
Category:
E-Commerce
Washington’s hottest club has everything Cabinet secretaries, a new stone patio, food from the White House kitchen, and even a playlist curated by President Donald Trump. But good luck getting a spot on the guest list. So far, only some of the president’s political allies, business executives, and administration officials have been invited. In Trump’s remake of the White House, the Rose Garden is now the Rose Garden Club, with the iconic lawn outside the Oval Office transformed into a taxpayer-supported imitation of the patio at Mar-a-Lago, the president’s private Florida resort. Trump debuted the name during his first formal dinner there this month and has included it on his official public schedule, too. He’s set to host another event on Wednesday evening with members of his Cabinet and senior staff, according to an official who wasn’t authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Presidents have always used invitations to the White House as a prestigious reward for friends and supporters, but Trumps rebranding of an iconic area of the Peoples House is unprecedented. Its a fresh example of how the billionaire Republican is replicating the gilded and cloistered bubble of his private life inside the confines of the most famous government housing in the country. Trump has long understood the allure of exclusive spaces In his first term, Trump had an eponymous hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue a few blocks away from the White House and would go there often for dinner. But the Trump family sold the property during President Joe Biden’s administration, leaving him without a uniquely Trump establishment in the city in his second term. Now he doesnt need to go anywhere to enter his comfort zone and, in fact, has been spending less time at his home on his golf course in central New Jersey than he did in the first year of his first term. To make the Rose Garden his own, Trump paved over the grass and set out tables and chairs, complete with yellow-and-white striped umbrellas that resemble the ones at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida. He also installed a speaker system to play his favorite tunes as he does in Florida. The project cost about $2 million and was paid for by the Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit that works with the National Park Service. The events on the new White House patio so far have been official in nature and are part of the long tradition of presidential entertaining at the Executive Mansion, with military social aides on hand to escort guests and the kitchen staff tasked to whip up the sustenance. Trump, who rose to fame as a New York real estate executive, also ran casinos and hotels, and he still loves playing host. He frequently flatters his guests as brilliant and beautiful and relishes the ability to gather the countrys most powerful people. So who pays for them? All presidents invite family members and friends, lawmakers and political allies, donors and business leaders, and others to the White House for reasons that range from bill signings and policy announcements to picnics and lavish state dinners. Trump is expected to entertain on the white marble patio, in the shadow of the Washington Monument, as often as he can, the White House said. Taxpayers pick up the tab for some of the social events hosted by a president, like the gathering for Republican lawmakers. Congress gives the White House money to pay for events like these since the Executive Mansion is also the presidents home. Events of a more personal nature, like a birthday party or the funeral service Trump held at the White House in 2020 for his younger brother, Robert, would have to be paid for by the president since it is not considered government or the peoples business. Tech titans lose out to GOP lawmakers for club’s opening The official debut of the Rose Garden Club was supposed to be with tech titans such as Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Google’s Sundar Pichai, and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella. However, rain forced Trump to move the Sept. 4 event indoors to the ornate State Dining Room. The honor of being first instead went to Republican lawmakers, who gathered around two dozen tables under a clear night sky on Sept. 5. Holding a microphone, Trump welcomed his guests by saying you are the first ones in this great place. He described it as a club for people that can bring peace and success to our country. Table settings featured white tablecloths and yellow roses, plus a place card that said, The Rose Garden Club at the White House. Dinner started with a Rose Garden Salad that included tomatoes and iceberg lettuce, followed by steak or chicken, or pasta primavera for vegetarians. Chocolate cake was the dessert. Trump sat at a corner table with House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas, and Sen. Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania. Other lawmakers circulated by Trumps table for photos with the president. Some were posted online. “It was a honor to be there, wrote Rep. John McGuire of Virginia. Chris Megerian and Darlene Superville, Associated Press
Category:
E-Commerce
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