President Trump鈥檚 First 100 Days: Voter Sentiment in Counties That Flipped
As President Donald Trump marks 100 days into his second term, the verdict on his early performance isn鈥檛 just coming from Washington 鈥� it鈥檚 echoing across key swing regions, like Talbot County, Maryland.
As President Donald Trump marks 100 days into his second term, the verdict on his early performance isn鈥檛 just coming from Washington 鈥� it鈥檚 echoing across key swing regions, like Talbot County, Maryland.
As President Donald Trump marks 100 days into his second term, the verdict on his early performance isn鈥檛 just coming from Washington 鈥� it鈥檚 echoing across key swing regions, like Talbot County, Maryland.
As President Donald Trump marks 100 days into his second term, the verdict on his early performance isn鈥檛 just coming from Washington 鈥� it鈥檚 echoing across key swing regions, like Talbot County, Maryland.
This rural enclave on Maryland鈥檚 Eastern Shore narrowly voted for Joe Biden in 2020, but in 2024, it swung back to Donald Trump, one of more than 50 counties nationwide that flipped in his favor. Now, voters here are weighing how they feel about the president鈥檚 opening months 鈥� and what they want to see next.
鈥淪o far so good,鈥� said Jeff Gilbert, a Trump voter in Talbot County. 鈥淗e said he was going to do things and he actually did them.鈥�
But even among some Republican supporters, concerns have surfaced.
鈥淚鈥檓 not OK with everything he鈥檚 passing with his executive orders,鈥� said Frank Carcamo, another Republican voter in the county.
鈥淚鈥檓 still waiting to see what happens with the tariffs,鈥� added Shelley Rael.
Trump鈥檚 approval rating had held relatively steady through the month of March 鈥� until what the White House dubbed 鈥淟iberation Day,鈥� when a new wave of tariffs took effect on April 2nd. Since then, national polling averages show a noticeable dip in support.
In other swing counties that helped propel Trump鈥檚 return to the White House, some voters urged patience.
鈥淚 think with the whole tariffs thing, I think everyone can sit tight. I'm a firm believer in looking at the big picture and not what's right in front of you,鈥� added Wisconsin voter Lauren Zwitter.
Still, broader polling paints a picture of growing unease. Two separate surveys 鈥� from UMass Amherst and Navigator Research 鈥� find that more than one in four Trump supporters now say they either have some doubts about voting for him or are disappointed with his performance.
鈥淚f a quarter of Trump鈥檚 voters are already having some sort of buyer鈥檚 remorse three months from when he was elected, that鈥檚 a real problem for the president,鈥� said Todd Belt, a political expert at George Washington University.
Experts say the political consequences of a president鈥檚 first 100 days can stretch far beyond the White House 鈥� down to midterms, school board races, and mayoral elections.
鈥淲e have a town election May 6th, that鈥檚 going to be huge,鈥� said Shari Wilcoxon, First Vice Chair of the Talbot County Republican Party.
Wilcoxon said she believes President Trump鈥檚 early momentum is energizing the Republican base and helping local candidates raise money.
鈥淗e鈥檚 followed through on every single promise in some capacity,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not all going to happen in 100 days.鈥�
The true referendum on the president's first 100 days may lie with that election, and others across the country in the coming months.