Polling data from YouGov for The Economist reveals that President Donald Trump's approval rating is currently negative in 20 states he won during the 2024 presidential election, with only 11 states reporting a positive approval rating. The District of Columbia has the lowest approval rating at -75.9 points, followed by Maryland at -41.5 points, and Hawaii at -35.6 points. Overall, most states have reported a decline in Trump's approval ratings since January, with Oklahoma experiencing the most significant shift from +27 points to -7 points.

Calvin Jillson, a politics professor at Southern Methodist University, noted that Trump's second-term agenda relies on Republican majorities in Congress, which are now threatened by shifting public sentiment, particularly regarding economic issues. He indicated that the coalition that previously supported Trump, including young people and minorities, has weakened.

Nationally, Trump's approval rating is at its lowest since he returned to office, with a recent poll indicating that 39% of respondents approve of his performance, while 58% disapprove, resulting in a net approval rating of -19 points. Additionally, a Fox News poll found that 76% of voters view the U.S. economy negatively, positioning Trump less favorably than his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, who had a 70% negative rating at the end of his presidency. In response to the polling, Trump expressed skepticism about the accuracy of the results, attributing them to what he describes as biased media.

In a related development, the FBI has initiated interviews with six Democratic U.S. lawmakers following their public assertion that military personnel have the legal right to refuse unlawful orders. This comes after the Pentagon indicated it might recall Senator Mark Kelly, a Navy veteran among the lawmakers, to active duty to potentially face military charges for what Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth labeled as 'seditious' actions. President Trump has accused the lawmakers of sedition, a charge that could carry severe penalties, including death.

The lawmakers, including Senator Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and Iraq war veteran, and Representatives Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio, and Chrissy Houlahan, all military veterans, have characterized the administration's threats as intimidation tactics. They maintain that their statements align with U.S. law, emphasizing that military personnel are sworn to uphold the Constitution rather than follow directives from the president.

Concerns have been raised regarding the legality of military actions ordered by the Trump administration, particularly strikes on vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking in Latin American waters, which the Pentagon has justified by labeling drug smugglers as terrorists. Additionally, there are apprehensions about the use of military forces in domestic contexts.

The Trump administration has faced criticism for undermining democratic norms, particularly through the use of law enforcement against perceived political adversaries. Recent months have seen criminal charges brought against several prominent critics of the president, although a judge recently dismissed two of these cases. While sedition is not a charge applicable to civilians under U.S. law, the Uniform Code of Military Justice does include provisions for sedition, with severe penalties possible. Notably, several individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack were convicted of seditious conspiracy before receiving pardons from Trump.

In response to the threats from the administration, Deluzio publicly accused Trump of attempting to silence dissent through intimidation, stating that he had received death threats as a result of his comments. Senator Kelly, addressing the threats of a court-martial, highlighted his extensive service record, asserting that he would not be silenced by those prioritizing personal power over constitutional principles.