Republicans are hoping Tax Day brings good news, but President Trump's tax cuts produced smaller-than-expected refunds. Trump faces a career-low 31% approval rating on the economy in a CNN poll, while his overall disapproval has climbed past 60% in some surveys. A Quinnipiac University poll found 65% of voters blame Trump for rising gas prices.

The political headwinds extend to tax handling. A Fox News poll shows 64% of voters disapprove of Trump's handling of taxes, up 11 percentage points since last year. "Voters remain most focused on affordability, but Washington is not," said Republican pollster Robert Blizzard, noting that foreign policy is crowding out the economic message voters prioritize. The party in power typically suffers when gas prices rise.

Trump plans to visit Las Vegas to promote his tax policies, though staying on message has proven challenging. On Monday, he used a McDonald's delivery event to explain a controversial social media post depicting himself as Jesus. The administration also faces an extraordinary spat with the Catholic Church after Trump excoriated Pope Leo XIV. Despite the political turbulence, stocks hit a record high on Wednesday.