Why was President Hoover unpopular during the Depression? He refused to support higher tariffs. He refused to provide direct relief aid. He criticized the New Deal.

He refused to provide direct relief aid

Although Hoover did criticize the New Deal, he did so after he left the presidency, when President Roosevelt was in power, so that is not the reason his presidency was unpopular. He believed strongly in individuality and personal responsibility which is why he worried about the consequences of Government intervention, that is why he refused to provide direct relief aid.