President Trump returns to U.S. after Pope Francis’ funeral, faces growing challenges

President Trump is back stateside after attending the funeral of Pope Francis in Italy over the weekend.

(NBC)-President Trump is back stateside after attending the funeral of Pope Francis in Italy over the weekend. While in Rome, the president had a behind-the-scenes meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which both leaders described as positive.

In a statement, Zelenskyy expressed hopes for continued talks, saying, “We want to continue such meetings to bring peace to Ukraine.” Photos released by the Ukrainian government show the two leaders speaking closely, as well as engaging in discussions with other world leaders from the UK and France.

This meeting marks a shift from their last in-person exchange at the White House in February, which ended with President Trump calling Zelenskyy “ungrateful.”

On Tuesday, President Trump will hit the road again, heading to Macomb County, Michigan for a rally, as deportations and court rulings continue to make headlines. At the same time, Tuesday will also mark his 100th day in office.

However, as he reaches this milestone, Trump’s approval rating continues to sink. A recent NBC News poll shows that 55 percent of Americans disapprove of the way he’s handling the White House. He’s especially facing criticism for his economic policies, with 61 percent of Americans disapproving of his tariff plan.

Despite the backlash, President Trump remains confident. “It’s all coming down, it’s all looking good, the tariffs are strong,” he said, referring to his economic strategy.

The poll results come as the U.S. stock market faces turmoil and recession fears grow amid rising inflation.