Brief | The American Dream
- Emma Pardo
- 5 hours ago
- 6 min read
Are People Finally Waking Up to the Realities of President Trump’s Administration?
As of October 2025, President Trump’s disapproval rates have increased to 58%. What can be made of this sudden change in polls in relation to the Trump administration? What are the global implications of people beginning to disagree with President Trump? While domestic factors are likely fueling this dissatisfaction with the Trump administration, this shift in sentiment also carries significant international implications.
Some Americans believe that President Trump has been threatening the country's democratic values that have been in place for around two centuries. This is due to the fact that the President’s administration has implemented multiple executive orders that go against the direct values stated in the country’s 1787 Constitution. On his first day in office, the 45th and 47th President issued an executive order seeking to end the right to birthright citizenship. This is in direct contradiction with the 14th Amendment, which states that “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” President Trump has also been supporting the idea of serving a third term, stating that he would “love to do it”, undermining the 22nd Amendment’s declaration that “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice”. In April, President Trump’s administration doubled down as they began to sell “Trump 2028” caps. These actions challenge core constitutional values in a country where amending the Constitution has historically been met with intense debate, such as the continuous controversy surrounding the 2nd Amendment.
President Donald Trump was elected in November of 2024 on the basis of populist promises to working-class voters. His campaign ran on lowering taxes and inflation rates, as well as prioritizing American workers in the job market. Notably, President Trump held a campaign event in a McDonald’s drive-thru in Pennsylvania, presenting his supposed understanding of the struggles of working-class citizens. In comparison to the unclear stances of his opponent, Kamala Harris, President Trump appealed to the present needs of the regular American citizen.
Trump battling against a small businessman in a Supreme Court case may beg to differ. Rick Woldenberg, an American who runs two toy businesses in Illinois, is the man behind a lawsuit against President Trump’s tariffs. Woldenberg’s company, Learning Resources, previously imported their products from China, until tariffs on that country were increased by 145%. Subsequently, Learning Resources shifted their production to India, until Trump increased tariffs on India by 50% and decreased those on China. As a result, the company was forced to rush their shipment from India before the tariff took effect, and ultimately suffered a $50,000 penalty from a six-hour shipment delay. In April, Woldenberg sued Trump’s tariffs, claiming that the action is above his executive power and an “illegal power grab” by the administration. The claim has now made its way to the Supreme Court, where the ruling could lead to refunds exceeding $100 billion to America’s trading partners.
The Rick Woldenberg is not the only American who feels that President Trump is setting them up for failure. Trump’s policies on immigration and deportation have been negatively affecting American residents and citizens. More than 170 U.S. citizens experienced mistreatment by immigration agents during the first nine months of President Donald Trump’s second administration. Mistreatment includes being dragged, tackled, beaten, tased, and shot by immigration agents. Out of these citizens, three of them were pregnant, and 20 of them were children, including two with cancer. Two dozen of these Americans were held for over a day without being able to phone lawyers or loved ones. More than 50 of these citizens were detained after agents questioned their citizenship, most of whom were Latino. This aligns with what three Supreme Court Justices predicted of the consequences of Trump’s immigration policies, stating citizens would be “grabbed, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed simply because of their looks, their accents, and the fact they make a living by doing manual labor.” Considering that 54% of Latino American citizens voted for Trump in the past, the recent violent incidents may be causing some to rethink their support.
Widespread protests within the United States have been consistent responses to President Trump's actions. Currently, “No Kings” protests have surfaced across the United States, notably in New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles. Around 100,000 people gathered in the New York Times Square holding signs stating "Democracy not Monarchy” and "The Constitution is not optional", with chants of “This is what democracy looks like!”. Beth Zasloffa, a notable freelance writer and editor, joined the New York protests. She claimed Trump’s administration was “a move toward fascism and an authoritarian government”. Massimo Mascoli, a resident of New Jersey who grew up in Italy, was also present at the protests. According to Mascoli, the path the US was following resembled the same path that his home country did in the last century, with the rise of Mussolini and Nazi influence in Italy.
People all over the world have also been speaking up against President Trump's actions. In April, hundreds of protesters turned up in European cities against U.S. President Donald Trump after Trump’s implementation of his severe global tariffs. Protesters in Berlin stood outside a Tesla showroom, admonishing the CEO’s role in President Donald Trump’s administration. In Paris, people gathered on the Place de la République, holding signs with notable messages such as “Resist Tyrant" and "Save Democracy". The recent “No Kings” protests in the United States have also spread into Europe: in Madrid, Paris, Helsinki, and other cities. European countries that have suffered recent authoritarian regimes are exceptionally passionate about the subject, with a protester holding a sign that read “My Italian grandmother warned me about this.”
It may be that Europe’s opposition to President Donald Trump reflects a broader pushback against the global pattern of democratic backsliding. Around the world, populist leaders have used similar political tactics as President Donald Trump. A striking example can be seen in Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Originally elected through free elections, Orban gradually undermined judicial independence, restricted the press, and rewrote election laws to favor his party. Another example is in El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele has followed a similar path. Bukele has extended control over the legislature, replacing judges, and is even seeking re-election despite constitutional limits. Every day, the US is mirroring these countries with a sharper reflection, as similar tactics threaten to erode long-standing democratic norms.
As disapproval of President Trump continues to rise, it seems that both Americans and the international community are beginning to wake up from the illusion of the “American Dream” that Trump’s America once promised. What was once portrayed as a revival of national pride and prosperity has revealed itself as a threat to the very democratic principles that define the nation. This awakening extends beyond U.S. borders, as people around the world recognize the dangers of emerging populism and the erosion of constitutional values. Yet, while this shift in awareness marks a crucial turning point, the future of democracy in America and across the globe remains uncertain. As nations grapple with growing authoritarian influences, only time will tell whether this awakening marks the beginning of a global reckoning or merely a temporary pause in democracy’s decline.
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