Trump Presidency Reaches Critical Juncture as Immigration Crisis Deepens
Every American presidency encounters defining moments that history records as pivotal turning points. For Joe Biden, it was the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan seven months into his term, from which his poll numbers never recovered. Jimmy Carter faced torpedoing by the Iran hostage crisis, while George W. Bush saw his popularity permanently damaged after Hurricane Katrina.
Now, Donald Trump confronts his own historic reckoning as his approval rating plunges to unprecedented depths following the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by immigration officers in Minneapolis. An exclusive Daily Mail/JL Partners survey reveals Trump at just 45 percent approval - matching his worst ever showing in this poll and marking a two-point decline from the previous week. The data shows 55 percent of Americans now disapprove of his overall presidential performance.
Immigration Transforms From Signature Issue to Political Albatross
Most damaging for Trump is the dramatic reversal on immigration, the very issue that defined his political identity for the past decade. What was once his strongest card has become what the poll identifies as "an albatross around his neck" - now representing one of his weakest policy areas. Only 39 percent approve of his immigration handling, with 47 percent expressing disapproval.
The Minneapolis chaos has become a personal turning point for 53 percent of voters, including 39 percent of Republicans. This represents, without question, a watershed moment in Trump's presidency that will determine whether this marks the beginning of sustained decline or a nadir from which recovery remains possible.
ICE Enforcement Emerges as Primary Driver of Disapproval
The zealousness of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations has become the number one driver of presidential disapproval, according to the poll data. Twenty-eight percent of Americans now cite ICE actions as their main reason for opposing Trump - a dramatic 10-point surge since Saturday's shooting of Alex Pretti.
This factor far exceeds the second-placed concern, with just 16 percent primarily citing cost of living and inflation issues. The political damage is particularly staggering given Trump's successful fulfillment of his key campaign promise to halt illegal border crossings - the very pledge that helped secure all seven swing states just fourteen months ago.
Behind the scenes, officials indicate Trump's frustration that his border success hasn't been properly communicated. Instead, media coverage has focused relentlessly on arrests of undocumented workers by heavily armed ICE operatives, culminating in the Minneapolis disaster that now engulfs his administration.
Widespread Policy Failures Compound Immigration Crisis
Beyond the immigration debacle, Trump faces broad policy disapproval across multiple fronts. Only 36 percent approve of his economic management, with 51 percent disapproving. Inflation efforts fare even worse at 33 percent approval against 53 percent disapproval.
Healthcare policy receives just 31 percent approval, while foreign policy - where Trump has concentrated significant presidential attention - stands at 36 percent approval against 47 percent disapproval.
Republican Base Shows Concerning Cracks
Perhaps most alarming for the White House is the erosion within Trump's Republican base. The poll reveals nearly one in four Republicans now view ICE unfavorably - a development that amounts to "code red" for party strategists facing crucial midterm elections in November.
Even on Second Amendment issues, traditionally Republican stronghold territory, 21 percent of party members believe gun rights aren't secure under this administration. This follows Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's controversial suggestion that Pretti - a licensed gun carrier - shouldn't have been armed at an anti-ICE protest.
Only 43 percent of Republicans agree with Noem's assessment that the shooting was justified, according to the Daily Mail data.
Public Sentiment Demands Policy Shift
The polling reveals clear public preferences for immigration policy changes. Fifty-three percent of Americans believe ICE raids in US cities should cease, while just 36 percent support their continuation. Sixty percent characterize ICE as "overreaching" - including three in ten Republicans.
Support for completely disbanding ICE stands at 47 percent, with one in four Republicans endorsing this radical step. Meanwhile, 48 percent believe enforcement should refocus on serious criminals rather than continuing current approaches, which only 22 percent support.
Regarding Minneapolis response, 63 percent want Trump to announce an investigation, while just 22 percent believe he should defend federal officers. Public judgment on Noem is particularly harsh - 42 percent believe she should be dismissed, compared to 28 percent supporting her retention.
Administration Scrambles as Midterm Threat Looms
Facing potential "lame duck" status for his presidency's final two years - along with realistic prospects of a third impeachment - Trump has responded swiftly to the Minneapolis crisis. He convened a crucial two-hour Oval Office meeting with Noem on Monday, though the frustration level remains unknown.
The administration has dispatched border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis while relocating Greg Bovino, the high-profile immigration official criticized for aggressive tactics. This reflects emerging policy tensions, with Noem favoring sweeping, sometimes televised operations against illegal migrants generally, while Homan prefers targeting serious criminals described as "the worst of the worst."
As midterm elections approach, ICE actions threaten to ignite Democratic turnout that could cost Republicans House control. For Trump, the combination of potential electoral wipeout and persistently anemic poll ratings jeopardizes his entire presidential legacy. The critical question remains whether he recognizes this moment as the historic turning point the polling data suggests.
