Barely 100 days have passed since Donald Trump returned to the White House, but his political capital is already showing signs of accelerated erosion. A slew of controversial decisions, the intensification of his confrontational style and an economy that is not taking off as promised have eroded his popularity, even among sectors that were key to his return, such as the Latino electorate.

According to a joint poll by The New York Times and Siena College, the perception that Trump is overstepping the bounds of his power is widespread among voters. Some 54% believe the president is "exceeding available powers," including 16% of Republicans and 62% of independents. Disapproval of his handling of crucial issues such as the economy, immigration and foreign trade has also increased.

The same study shows that the president has lost ground in areas that used to be strengths: only 43% approve of his economic management at the beginning of his term, a significant drop from the 64% who praised his management in his first term. Dissatisfaction crosses partisan, racial and regional lines: just 1% of respondents rate the current economy as "excellent" while 76% describe it as "fair" or "bad.

Latinos: Withdrawing Support

The bump is even more notable among Latino voters, a group that Trump had historically captured in 2024. According to a Reuters report, Latino support has dropped 3 percentage points to 34%, while disapproval rose 7 points to 61%.

While many Latinos support measures to deport dangerous criminals, there is growing concern about deportations without due process and the overall harshness of immigration policies. Voters like Antonio Gonzales Jr, a Navy veteran in California who supported Trump, express doubts about the "secretive" manner in which deportations are being executed.

Clarissa Martinez de Castro, director of UnidosUS's Latino Vote Initiative, summed up the dilemma, telling Reuters, "What really helped Republicans in 2024 was economic discontent, and now that people don't feel better, it's an alarm bell for Republicans. Trump now owns the economy."

Power overflowing, chaos growing

Part of the deterioration can be explained by the style of government: Trump has not only gambled on controversial measures, but has openly defied institutional counterweights. As The New York Times reports, large majorities of voters reject the president imposing tariffs without congressional authorization, eliminating programs created by law or ignoring Supreme Court rulings, behaviors that the administration has tried in these first months.

The situation has generated perceptions of a "chaotic" and "scary" administration, even among some supporters, according to Times/Siena Poll data. And while some of the Trumpist base celebrates his aggressiveness as a form of "rule-breaking" necessary to change Washington, most voters feel his policy actions have gone "too far."

From massive deportations to new tariffs that make commodities like toys more expensive, to attacks on media outlets and weakening international alliances, Trump has pushed his presidency into increasingly authoritarian and unpredictable territory.

Fast-diluting capital

In symbolic terms, Trump 2.0's first 100 days reflect a mix of momentum and recklessness. He has pushed for profound changes, but at an extremely high political cost. According to the Times, more voters today believe Trump's policies have hurt them than helped them, a reversal from the favorable perception they held at the end of his first term.

The impact is not only felt in the polls. Key economic sectors report uncertainty and paralysis due to trade wars. Civil rights groups warn of backsliding on fundamental freedoms. And international allies are watching Washington's isolationist turn with trepidation.

For the moment, Trump seems to be betting that his style of constant confrontation will continue to pay off. But if these first 100 days evidence anything, it is that his room for maneuver has shrunk and that, unlike in 2017, the country and the world are no longer surprised: they are resisting.

The question now is whether this rate of attrition will be sustainable for the rest of the term. As one of his own constituents notes, quoted by The New York Times, the current administration "feels like driving with a chainsaw on the middle of a highway." And the political gasoline, at this rate, could run out much sooner than expected.