Jaw‑Dropping Approval Ratings Reveal What Americans Really Think About Donald Trump

Since Donald Trump’s dramatic return to the White House in 2025 for a second term, his approval ratings have been among the most closely watched — and hotly debated — indicators of American public opinion. Once again, Trump’s popularity has become a central story in U.S. politics, revealing deeply entrenched polarization, shifting priorities among voters, and evolving views on leadership, policy, and the future of the country.

What Americans really think about Trump isn’t uniform — but recent poll after poll paints a striking picture: His overall job approval remains low, confidence in his leadership is waning, and voters are deeply divided on his performance on core issues like the economy, immigration, and foreign policy. But while Trump’s base remains loyal, a large segment of independents and many across demographic lines are openly critical.

In this deep dive, we’ll break down the latest data, dig into what the numbers mean, and explore how Americans’ views of Trump today reflect broader trends in U.S. politics.

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1. Current Approval Ratings: A Snapshot

Recent polling shows that President Trump’s approval rating is consistently below 50%, with many surveys peaking in the low 40s or even the high 30s — a historically weak position for a sitting U.S. president.

Recent Polling Highlights

• A Marquette Law School poll in mid‑2025 found Trump’s overall approval at 45% and disapproval at 55%, demonstrating a clear tilt toward dissatisfaction among Americans overall.

• A new Pew Research Center survey from January 2026 shows that only about a quarter (27%) support most of Trump’s policies and plans, down from 35% when he entered office.

• Multiple polls consolidated by trackers suggest Trump’s approval range often sits around 40–44%, while disapproval generally remains in the mid‑50s, for a negative “net approval.”

• One Gallup‑style trend indicator put Trump’s approval as low as 36%, with disapproval near or above 60%.

Despite occasional variation by pollster, these results are consistent: More Americans disapprove than approve of Trump’s performance as president.

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2. What’s Driving Disapproval? Core Issues Americans Care About

The Economy

The economy — long a defining political issue — is a central factor behind Trump’s low ratings:

• Americans consistently rate Trump’s handling of the economy poorly. One poll found only 37% approved of his economic management.

• Recent analysis highlights that 55% of Americans believe the economy has worsened under Trump, and a majority prioritize lowering prices over other issues.

• Trump insists inflation is defeated, but many voters still struggle with rising costs for essentials — a disconnect pollsters say harms his approval numbers.

Given the central role voters place on inflation and cost of living, these negative evaluations directly impact his overall job approval.

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Immigration and Border Policy

Trump’s hardline approach to immigration once energized his supporters, but public opinion has shifted:

• Disapproval of immigration enforcement actions, particularly by ICE, has risen sharply — showing dissatisfaction even among some prior supporters.

• Controversial border enforcement tactics have triggered backlash, with some Americans now favoring significant reforms to immigration agencies.

While immigration remains an issue where Republicans generally outperform Democrats in public opinion, Trump’s handling of it has not generated broad approval.

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Foreign Policy and Trust in Leadership

Views of Trump’s foreign policy have also influenced approval:

• Many Americans express little confidence in Trump’s foreign affairs leadership when polled on issues like the wars in Ukraine or the Middle East.

• Confidence in leadership skills like decision‑making, honesty, and ability to manage government falls below levels needed to sustain high approval.

This lack of confidence extends beyond specific votes to core perceptions about Trump’s qualities and judgment, further dampening public support.

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3. A Deeply Polarized Electorate

One of the most striking themes in the polling is how deeply polarized American opinion remains, especially along party lines:

• Republicans overwhelmingly continue to approve of Trump — often with approval rates above 80% among GOP identifiers in many surveys.

• Democrats, by contrast, almost uniformly disapprove — often in the 90% range.

• Independents — a crucial swing group — tend to be much more negative than positive, and their skepticism can be decisive in national trends.

What this means is clear: Trump’s approval is not simply low — it’s strongly partisan. Republicans see his leadership as positive, and Democrats view it negatively, with independents often tilting toward disapproval.

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4. Demographic Divides in Trump’s Approval

In addition to party polarization, demographic factors shape how different groups view Trump:

Age

Older Americans tend to view Trump more favorably than younger adults, who are more likely to disapprove.

Education

Approval rates tend to be higher among Americans without a bachelor’s degree compared to those with college degrees — a pattern common in U.S. politics that often reflects economic and cultural divides.

Race and Ethnicity

• Majorities of Black, Hispanic, and Asian Americans disapprove of Trump’s job performance, often by large margins, contributing to the president’s overall negative ratings among non‑white voters.

• White evangelical Protestants and other conservative religious groups remain among Trump’s strongest supporters.

These demographic trends illustrate that Trump’s approval is not monolithic and that broader American views are shaped by social, cultural, and economic identities.

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5. Confidence in Trump’s Leadership Beyond Job Approval

Pollsters increasingly distinguish between job approval and confidence in a leader’s core qualities — and Trump’s numbers in both areas are concerning for his support:

• Few Americans express high confidence in Trump’s leadership on key presidential traits, such as honesty, empathy, or decision‑making.

• While many see Trump as someone who “stands up for what he believes in,” far fewer describe him as honest or caring about ordinary people.

These perceptions matter because presidential approval is not just about policies — it’s also about trust and belief in leadership.

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6. What This Means for American Politics

Trump’s approval ratings have implications far beyond headlines:

Electoral Consequences

Low approval ratings typically spell trouble for a sitting president and his party in elections. Entering the 2026 midterms, Trump’s ratings — especially on the economy — could influence results in Congress and state elections.

Political Polarization

Trump’s approval highlights how divided Americans are on fundamental questions about the country’s direction, values, and leadership. This polarization is not limited to Trump but resonates across institutions and elite political battles.

Issue Priorities

Polls consistently show that Americans prioritize economic affordability above all else. Trump’s inability — according to many voters — to deliver on cost‑of‑living improvements weighs heavily on his approval.

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7. Why Trump Still Has Support

Despite low approval overall, it’s crucial to understand why Trump still retains strong support from a significant segment of the electorate:

• His core supporters value his stance on immigration, national security, strong executive action, and cultural issues.

• Many Republicans credit Trump with economic policies they believe will benefit the nation in the long run, even if short‑term polling looks weak.

• Tribal loyalty and partisan identity — especially in the conservative media ecosystem — help sustain his base’s approval.

Therefore, Trump’s approval ratings tell two stories: broad dissatisfaction among the general public, and deep loyalty within his political base.

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8. How Trump Compares Historically

While Trump’s approval ratings may be high compared to some historical norms during times of crisis, they are low by the standards of most post‑World War II presidents at similar points in their terms. Many predecessors enjoyed higher approval, particularly early in their tenures.

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Conclusion: The Complex Reality of American Opinion

What Americans really think about Donald Trump — as revealed in jaw‑dropping approval ratings — is complex, highly polarized, and deeply connected to core issues that define modern U.S. politics.

Trump’s approval ratings show:

• Clear dissatisfaction among a majority of Americans, especially independents and non‑Republicans.

• Persistent loyalty among his base, particularly among Republicans and certain demographic groups.

• Low confidence in his leadership on key issues like the economy and trustworthiness.

• Broad partisan and demographic divides that reflect deeper cultural and political rifts in the country.

In short, Trump remains a transformative and divisive figure — one whose approval ratings reflect not just opinions about one man, but the state of America’s political identity.