Jeff Bezos is giving Donald Trump a public compliment at a moment when the president’s poll numbers are anything but flattering.
The Amazon founder praised Trump during a new CNBC interview filmed at the Blue Origin rocket factory in Florida. Bezos described the president as a more controlled version of the man who served his first term in the White House.
The timing is what makes it interesting. Trump has been hit with rough approval numbers as his second term crosses the 100-day mark, with voters raising concerns over the economy, tariffs, and market uncertainty.
Bezos Says Trump Deserves Credit
Bezos appeared on CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’ with Andrew Ross Sorkin and offered unexpectedly positive comments about Trump’s second stint in office.
“I think he is a more mature, more disciplined version of himself than he was in his first term,” Bezos said.
He did not stop there. “Trump has lots of good ideas,” Bezos added. “He’s been right about a lot of things. You have to give him credit where credit is due.”
For Bezos, that is not exactly a small statement. The billionaire has had a complicated public relationship with Trump over the years, especially through Amazon and media coverage connected to the Washington Post.
During the same interview, Bezos also said he still occasionally calls former President Barack Obama for advice, describing him as “a very smart guy.”
Trump’s Poll Numbers Tell A Different Story
Bezos’ praise comes as Trump faces some of the weakest approval numbers for a modern president at this point in a term.
A recent ABC poll put Trump at 39 percent approval, with 55 percent disapproving of his performance. A Washington Post and Ipsos survey released around the same time showed nearly the same result, with only 39 percent approving of the job he is doing.
That rating reportedly marks the lowest for a president around the 100-day point in roughly 80 years. The previous low at that stage was tied to former President Harry S. Truman in 1945.
So, why are voters souring?
The economy appears to be a major reason. Poll participants pointed to market instability, trade concerns, and Trump’s controversial “Liberation Day” tariff announcement. According to the polling data, 73 percent of Americans said the economy was in bad shape. Another 53 percent said conditions had worsened under Trump’s leadership. Only 31 percent said they believed Trump’s tariff plan would eventually bring long-term economic benefits.
Tariffs Become A Major Political Problem
A New York Times and Siena College survey released in late April also found that majorities of voters disapproved of Trump’s handling of the economy, immigration, foreign trade, and the war between Russia and Ukraine.
CNN pollster Harry Enten said Trump’s standing with independent voters had fallen even lower than during his first presidency. “They oppose, oppose, oppose,” Enten said while discussing public reaction to Trump’s message on tariffs and the economy.
Business leaders have also sounded cautious. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon warned that recession risks have risen amid tariff tensions. “We are entering the second quarter with a markedly different operating environment than earlier this year,” Solomon said during an earnings call.
For now, Bezos is giving Trump credit. Voters, at least in these polls, are not nearly as generous.
