New Poll Shows the Most Popular Member of Trump’s Cabinet
The tariffs rolled out by President Donald Trump have created a breakout star within his administration.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has emerged as the “most popular member” of Trump’s Cabinet, according to a recent poll by J.L. Partners. Bessent scored a +14 net approval rating, placing him well ahead of his peers. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard tied for second place, each earning a +8 rating.
The good polling news isn’t limited to Bessent. President Trump himself is seeing a surge in approval ratings, even amid days of fierce criticism from Democrats, establishment Republicans, and mainstream media figures over his aggressive new trade policies.
A separate survey by J.L. Partners in collaboration with the Daily Mail, conducted between March 31 and April 3 with 1,000 registered voters, found that Trump’s support rose sharply after the White House announced sweeping new tariffs on April 2. His approval rating climbed to 53%, up four points from the previous week’s 49%. The Daily Mail described the results as “surprising,” particularly given the stock market turbulence that followed.
Looking deeper into the data, the president’s favorability among voters aged 18 to 29 saw a remarkable 13-point increase since March 7. Analysts noted that Trump is building upon the gains he made with younger voters during the November election, when the 18-to-29 demographic shifted 10 points in his favor after strongly backing Joe Biden in 2020.
Trump’s approval also rose by six points among Democrats and independents, while support among black voters surged by 17 points compared to the previous week.
As Trump nears his 100th day back in the White House, employers and small business leaders are giving him high marks. Many believe the U.S. economy "can win now," though they acknowledge it hasn’t “started to win yet.”
“I would give President Trump, right now, a pretty solid B+,” said TaChelle Lawson, founder of FIG Strategy & Consulting and a Freedom Economy Index (FEI) survey participant, in an interview with Fox News Digital. She praised Trump’s “clear plan” focused on prioritizing the economy, adding, “He’s definitely putting business first, trimming the fat.”
Lawson also noted that while the administration’s focus on business is appreciated, “the messaging could use a little bit of work.”
Lawson’s comments reflect broader sentiment captured in the latest quarterly survey conducted by RedBalloon and PublicSquare. According to Fox Business, more than two-thirds of the 50,000 small business owners surveyed now anticipate “slow” or “robust” economic growth this year—a stark contrast to the previously pessimistic outlook.
Andrew Crapuchettes, CEO of RedBalloon, emphasized to Fox that America is battling “a very sick economy” that requires “strong medicine.” He said, “If it gets that medicine, we all feel like we have a very strong economy that will win and will actually be a huge blessing to the entire world.”
Crapuchettes stressed that a strong U.S. economy, especially one driven by small businesses, would have a “disproportionate and positive impact on the entire planet.”
PublicSquare CEO Michael Seifert echoed this optimism, saying many small businesses are encouraged by the administration’s efforts to eliminate “overregulation” and cut the “red tape seeded in bureaucracy” that stifles growth. Seifert highlighted that the administration’s focus on clearing regulatory barriers has been particularly well received as the 100-day milestone approaches.