A new poll by J.L. Partners reveals that Scott Bessent is the most popular figure in President Donald Trump’s administration, commanding a net positive approval rating of 14 percentage points. While the political class decries tariffs as reckless, everyday Americans—those who’ve borne the brunt of globalism’s hollowing out of the heartland—see Bessent as a steady hand guiding the nation toward economic sovereignty. His strategic embrace of tariffs resonates with those who value strength over surrender.
Bessent, a seasoned financier who founded Key Square Group and once partnered with Soros Fund Management, brings a rare blend of Wall Street savvy and Main Street loyalty. Unlike the coastal pundits who sneer at Trump’s trade policies, Bessent understands the pain of communities gutted by decades of unfair trade deals. Factories shuttered, jobs shipped overseas, and dreams deferred—these are the scars of a system that prioritized corporate profits over American workers. Bessent’s leadership at the Treasury signals a shift, one that prioritizes the forgotten over the privileged.
The poll places other Trump appointees in the public’s favor, though none rival Bessent’s appeal. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, both former Democrats who crossed party lines to join Trump’s second term, share second place with net positive approval ratings of 8 points each. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem follow closely with 7 points, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth earns 6 points. These figures, though respected, trail Bessent, whose economic stewardship strikes a deeper chord.
🚨 BREAKING: Trump Treasury Secretary SCOTT BESSENT found to hold the highest net approval rating out of Trump's senior officials at +14 – @J_L_Partners poll pic.twitter.com/3184HPxQI4
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 10, 2025
Contrast this with Elon Musk, the Tesla CEO tasked with leading Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency. Musk, despite his outsized influence, languishes with a net negative approval rating of 6 points. His unpopularity highlights a truth: Americans want leaders who feel their struggles, not billionaires who seem detached from the daily grind. Bessent, by contrast, projects a tempered, relatable image—calm under pressure, loyal to Trump, and focused on results.
“In our cabinet league table, it’s the treasury secretary who wins top prize,” said James Johnson, co-founder of J.L. Partners, in an interview with the Washington Examiner. “Voters approve of him and the job he is doing the most — a course correction to some commentator criticism this week.” Johnson, who once advised British Prime Minister Theresa May, attributes Bessent’s success to his ability to avoid personal controversies, his unwavering commitment to Trump’s vision, and a composed presence that reassures a jittery public. For millions, Bessent is the antidote to a political class that’s long ignored them.
The economy under Bessent’s watch has been a lightning rod for debate, largely due to Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy. Critics in Washington and New York wring their hands over market volatility, pointing to Thursday’s stock market dip—the S&P 500 fell 2.2%, and the Nasdaq dropped 2.8%—as evidence of failure. But for the steelworker in Ohio or the farmer in Iowa, these tariffs are a lifeline. They’re a signal that America is finally fighting back against countries that have exploited its openness for decades. Trump’s recent 90-day tariff delay, far from a retreat, is a calculated move to bring nations to the negotiating table.
Bessent himself has championed this approach with clarity and conviction. “The successful negotiating strategy that President Trump implemented a week ago today,” he told reporters at the White House on Wednesday, “It has brought more than 75 countries forward to negotiate. It took great courage, great courage for him to stay the course until this moment, and it ended up here.” His words carry weight because they’re backed by action. The pause on “reciprocal” duties, with a baseline of 10% tariffs, has forced global powers to reckon with America’s resolve.
Bessent’s message to the world is equally firm: play fair, or pay the price. “As I told everyone a week ago in this very spot, ‘Do not retaliate, and you will be rewarded.’ So every country in the world wants to come and negotiate. We are willing to hear you,” he declared. This is not the language of capitulation but of strength—a stance that resonates with Americans who’ve watched their livelihoods erode under the guise of “free trade.” Bessent’s approach proves that tariffs aren’t just blunt instruments; they’re tools of leverage, wielded with precision.
For the forgotten Americans, the results speak for themselves. Inflation, a scourge that’s squeezed families for years, has eased to 2.4% in the year ending March, down from 2.8% the previous month, according to the Department of Labor. While the chattering classes obsess over Wall Street’s daily swings, Main Street sees a Treasury Secretary who’s delivering stability where it matters most: in their wallets. Bessent’s focus on curbing price pressures while protecting American industries has earned him trust that transcends party lines.
The political establishment, however, remains out of touch. Trump’s own approval rating has dipped to a net negative 3.2 points, per RealClearPolitics, a sign that the beltway’s disdain for his policies still holds sway in some quarters. But Bessent’s popularity suggests a disconnect: while the elites mock Trump’s tariff gambit, the people see it as a long-overdue correction. They know that decades of globalization enriched corporations and foreign powers while leaving American workers in the dust. Bessent, in their eyes, is righting that wrong.
The J.L. Partners poll, conducted among 1,019 registered voters from March 31 to April 3, carries a margin of error of 3.4 points. Its findings confirm what many already sense: Bessent is a leader for the moment, a man who bridges Trump’s bold vision with the practical needs of a nation yearning for fairness. He’s not just managing the Treasury; he’s restoring faith in an America that puts its own people first.
For the last four decades, Wall Street has grown wealthier than ever before. And it can continue to grow and do well. But for the next four years, it’s Main Street’s turn.
It’s Main Street’s turn to hire workers. It’s Main Street’s turn to drive investment. And it’s Main… pic.twitter.com/lMMO4Davhz
— Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) April 9, 2025
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