WASHINGTON, D.C — The notion that people who voted for President Donald Trump are now losing confidence in him after the first 100 days of his second term is “absolute hogwash,” said U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman — at least in Wyoming.
This week, which marked Trump’s first 100 days in office, national polls were released showing the president’s overall job approval ratings have dipped since January and February.
But Hageman and her Wyoming colleagues in the U.S. Senate — John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis — provided upbeat assessments of Trump’s standing.
The three Republicans spent half of April back in the Cowboy State during Congress’s Easter recess. Upon returning to D.C. this week, they said people in Wyoming are positive about Trump despite the lackluster nationwide poll numbers.
“I have experienced, whether I’m at the grocery store or the feed store, that people are still very enthusiastic about Trump,” Lummis said Wednesday.
Trade Wars, Inflation, Immigration
According to three polls this week, trade wars and inflation have dragged down Trump’s overall approval rating. He got mixed reviews on immigration-related categories.
An ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll showed Trump with an overall 39% job approval rating, down 6 percentage points from February, while 55% said they disapprove.
A Reuters/Ipsos survey put Trump’s overall job approval figure slightly higher, 42% , but down from 47% on Inauguration Day. Overall disapproval in the new Reuters/Ipsos poll was 53%.
A Fox News poll pegged the overall approval figure higher than the other two polls, 44%, but said 55%disapproved.
Fox News found Trump’s approval on “border security” to be 55%, but on “deportations” 45%.
On various economic categories, approvals ranged from 33% to 38% in the Fox News poll.
No ‘Buyer’s Remorse’
Those national polls don’t reflect Trump’s support in Wyoming, the delegation members said.
Hageman referenced the numerous court injunctions against the president, some of which pertain to illegal immigration. She said Wyomingites are on the president’s side.
“It’s very clear to me that the citizens of Wyoming are behind the policies of President Trump,” Hageman told Cowboy State Daily on Monday. “His policies — they want them carried out.”
During a town hall meeting in Buffalo with Johnson County residents last week, Hageman got mixed and animated reactions to her comments denouncing the overreach of district court judges and deportations. While most supported her positions, there were also some boos and shouting out of questions at her as well.
Wyomingites see the courts as an obstruction, she said.
“They’re frustrated with the court system as it attempts to block (Trumpo) from carrying out the very policies he was elected on,” Hageman said. “And while I know there are some efforts to to try to paint this — that people have buyer’s remorse, and that sort of thing — that’s absolute hogwash.
“I think he has more support now than he did in November.”
Wyoming in the November election gave Trump a larger percentage of support than any other state.
Lummis said she and her staff are having conversations with Wyoming industry groups about tariffs, and with land-use officials about staffing. On the whole, she said Wednesday, “We are getting very positive feedback.”
‘Forging A Bright Future’
Barrasso, the second-ranking Republican in the Senate, took to the chamber floor Tuesday with a glowing rundown of Trump’s first 100 days buoyed by a GOP-controlled Congress.
He cited increased oil and coal production, tough immigration policies and anti-woke initiatives as key accomplishments.
“One hundred days ago, unified Republican government began,” he said. “We fight every day for the American people. We are fixing past failures. We are forging a bright future. Our bold agenda is delivering historic results.”
Barrasso shook off questions about any sagging support for Trump back home.
"In my travels around Wyoming, I’ve heard strong support for President Trump and his administration,” he told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday. “I will continue to work with President Trump to deliver the results the people of Wyoming were promised.”
Sean Barry can be reached at sean@cowboystatedaily.com.
