The University of Texas at Austin's Texas Politics Project survey, released Wednesday, found that 46% of Texans do not approve of how Trump is handling the country's economy amid new tariffs and escalating trade wars. Just 40% support Trump's economic moves.

It is the first time Trump earned a negative economic rating since UT Austin pollsters began asking about his handling of the economy in June 2019. Even at the height of the COVID pandemic Trump fared better, with a 49% approval rating in April 2020. Just 42% disapproved then.

"President Trump owns the current economic uncertainty lock, stock, and barrel," said James Henson, who leads the Texas Politics Project.

Henson said Trump's approval likely didn't suffer as much during the COVID pandemic, because it was an external shock that couldn't be attributed directly to him.

"He is trying to blame others, like the previous president or the fed chair, for the current disruptions," Henson said. "But that's a hard sell to any reasonably critical observer, and likely to get harder."