Multiple National Polls Show Declining Approval for Trump, Widespread Concerns on Economy and National Direction

Approval Ratings Hit Record Lows, Public Pessimism Grows Across Multiple Measures

An aggregate analysis reports a 21-point drop in net approval during the first year of his second term, from +5 to -16, described as the largest first-year decline for any president since 1948.

Summary of Key Polls

Multiple surveys from NPR/PBS News/Marist, CNN/SSRS, Reuters/Ipsos, AP-NORC, Marquette Law School, NORC at the University of Chicago, CNBC, Pew Research Center, CBS News/YouGov, and Economist/YouGov show a consistent trend of declining public confidence. President Trump's overall job approval ratings range from 33% to 40% across various polls conducted between January and December 2024.

Economic Approval and Public Concerns

Approval Ratings on the Economy

President Trump's approval rating for handling the economy has decreased across multiple polls:

• A December Marist poll reports 36% approval, described as his lowest on this question in six years of that survey.
• A CNN poll conducted in January found 31% approval for handling the economy, described as a new low in that poll.
• An AP-NORC poll reported 30% approval on the economy.
• A CNBC survey reported 39% approval on the economy, with disapproval at 60%.

Public Perception of Economic Conditions

73% of respondents described the economy as poor in a December Marist poll, while another 73% held this view in an April NORC poll.

• 60% of respondents in a December Marist poll stated the economy is not performing well for them personally.
• 35% reported their financial situation worsened over the past year, while only 21% reported improvement.
• 70% of Americans reported their monthly expenses either match or exceed their income.

Primary Economic Concerns

• Prices/Cost of Living: Across multiple polls, prices and the cost of living rank as the top concern. In the December Marist poll, 45% of respondents cited prices as their primary economic concern.
• Housing: 18% of respondents identified housing as their top concern.
• Tariffs: 15% cited tariffs as their top economic concern. Two-thirds of respondents expressed concern about the impact of tariffs on their personal finances. Republican concern about tariffs decreased from 70% in June to 38% in December.
• Job Security: 10% cited job security as their primary concern.

Approval on Specific Economic Issues

• Inflation: A CNN poll reported 27% approval for Trump's handling of inflation, down from 44% a year earlier. A CBS News/YouGov poll tracked a 31-point drop in inflation approval.
• Cost of Living: A Reuters/Ipsos poll found 22% approval for handling the cost of living.
• Gas Prices: A CNN poll reported 24% approval for Trump's handling of gas prices.

Overall Job Approval and Public Sentiment

Job Approval Ratings

Direction of the Country

63% of Americans believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, according to a December Marist poll. An April NORC poll found 72% held this view.

• 68% of respondents in a CNN poll stated Trump has not focused enough on the country's most important problems.

Perception of Recession

A majority of Americans in the December Marist poll believe the country is currently in a recession, though the technical definition (two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth) has not been met. Perceptions of a recession are more prevalent among Latinos (22 points higher than white respondents), individuals under 45 (17 points higher than those over 45), and women (15 points higher than men).

Partisan and Demographic Breakdowns

Republican Support

While President Trump maintains majority support among Republicans, multiple polls indicate some erosion:

• Marist (December): 84% of Republicans approve, a 5-point decrease from the previous month.
• CNN (January): Strong approval among Republicans fell to 49%, down from 64% a year prior. Nearly three in 10 Republicans reported Trump has not paid enough attention to important problems.
• Pew Research Center: The percentage of Republicans who believed Trump possessed the necessary mental fitness for the job decreased from 75% to 66% between February 2025 and January. The percentage who thought Trump acted ethically in office decreased from 55% to 42%.
• CNBC: Economic approval among Republicans fell to 77%, driven by a drop among non-MAGA Republicans (from 69% to 55%).

Independent Voters

• A CNN poll found Trump's approval rating among independents at 26%, described as a new low in that poll.
• A December Marist poll found 30% of independents approve of the president's performance.
• A majority of independents align with Democratic viewpoints on multiple issues, including concerns about democracy and the war in Iran.

Demographic Groups

• Age: Individuals under 45 are more likely to disapprove of economic performance and believe the country is in a recession. Among Americans younger than 45, disapproval increased 18 points from a year earlier.
• Race/Ethnicity: 75% of Black respondents and 67% of Latino respondents reported the economy is not working well for them, compared to 56% of white respondents. A CNN poll found a 19-point decrease in approval among Latino Americans from a year earlier.
• Gender: Women are more likely than men to view the state of the union as not strong. 69% of white women without college degrees reported the economy is not working for them, compared to 51% of white men without college degrees.
• Education: 69% of college graduates consider the state of the union not strong, while those without degrees are evenly split.

International Concerns: Military Action in Iran

Multiple polls conducted following the initiation of U.S. military action in Iran on February 28 indicate low public support.

Approximately 38% of Americans support the intervention, according to multiple surveys. This is lower than initial support for any major U.S. military operation since at least 2001.

Historical Comparison of Initial Public Support

Partisan Views and Economic Impact

• Among Republicans, support for the Iran strikes stands at approximately 70%, lower than Republican backing for Afghanistan (96%) and Iraq (~90%).
• A CNBC survey found 48% of Americans feel less safe due to the war, with 58% of independents sharing this view.
• Majorities stated the war is not worth the financial cost (64%), gasoline price increases (64%), or casualties.
• The national average gas price rose to over $4 per gallon following the attack. Reports indicate six American casualties and an estimated cost of $1 billion per day.

Concerns for Democracy and Governance

78% of Americans see a serious threat to the future of American democracy, including 91% of Democrats, 80% of independents, and 61% of Republicans.

• Checks and Balances: 68% stated the system of checks and balances is not working well, a 12-point increase from a year prior.
• Presidential Power: A January CNN poll found 58% believe Trump has overstepped in using the power of the presidency. A majority also felt he went too far in attempting to change cultural institutions (62%), cut federal programs (57%), and deport immigrants (55%).
• Department of Homeland Security Shutdown: 39% blamed Trump and Congressional Republicans, 25% blamed Democrats, and 28% attributed equal blame to both.

Looking Forward: Future Expectations

• Economic Outlook: Only 4 in 10 expected the economy to improve in the next year, down from 56% prior to Trump's inauguration. A majority (6 in 10) anticipate the economy will remain poor a year from now.
• National Direction: 63% believe the country is heading in the wrong direction.
• Global Outlook: Nearly 6 in 10 expressed increased pessimism about the world in 2026. Optimism was higher among Republicans, white evangelical Christians, rural residents, and white individuals without degrees.
• Midterm Elections: Americans prefer Democratic control of Congress by 4 points. Negative views of the Democratic Party remain high (52% negative, 26% positive), while Republican Party ratings are 35% positive, 52% negative.

Poll Methodology