Twice as many Americans say they strongly disapprove of President Donald Trump’s second term than those who strongly approve, according to a new poll.
In a survey from YouGov and The Economist, conducted Aug. 15-18, two-thirds of respondents said they have strong feelings about Trump — and, increasingly, most of them are negative. The poll found 47% said they strongly disapprove of the second-term president, compared to 23% who say they strongly approve.More: Amid Putin, Zelenskyy talks, several Trump approval polls dropped. Here’s what they say.
About 70% of Americans say they either “strongly approve” or “strongly disapprove” of Trump’s job performance, while 27% say they have a more muted opinion of the president. That includes people who either “somewhat approve” or “somewhat disapprove.”
When broken down along party lines, most Democrats say they disapprove of Trump, and most Republicans approve of him, matching what has been a consistent theme among polling since the Republican took office a second time in January.
The recent YouGov/Economist poll highlights a notable shift in American public opinion toward former American President Donald Trump, reflecting an intensification of polarization around his leadership. According to the findings, Democrats’ views of Trump have hardened significantly, with an overwhelming 83% stating they strongly disapprove of him. This figure is even higher than the level of passionate support he continues to receive within his own party. Among Republicans, only about 54% reported that they strongly approve of his performance, suggesting that while he still maintains a loyal base, the intensity of that support is not as dominant as the opposition he faces from Democrats.
The survey results also point to a broader change in sentiment when compared to earlier in Trump’s presidency. In January, during his second term, public opinion was more evenly distributed in terms of strong feelings, with 69% of Americans expressing either strong approval or strong disapproval. At that time, 36% strongly disapproved of Trump, while 34% strongly approved, showing a relatively balanced divide between supporters and detractors. However, the most recent data illustrates a sharp divergence. The number of respondents who strongly disapprove has risen by 11 points, reaching levels that underscore deepening dissatisfaction. Conversely, the percentage of those who strongly approve has fallen by nine points, signaling a decline in enthusiasm even among his staunchest supporters.
This growing disparity demonstrates that Trump remains a deeply polarizing figure. His critics have become more unified and vocal in their opposition, while his support base, although still substantial, appears less intensely committed than before. The data suggests that rather than bridging divides, Trump’s leadership has amplified partisan sentiment, solidifying opposition while gradually eroding the passion among parts of his own coalition. This shift may carry significant implications for his political influence and the broader trajectory of U.S. politics.
Americans are disliking Trump’s second term more than they expected: What to know
The poll surveyed 1,568 U.S. adults and has a margin of error of ±3.5 percentage points. Overall approval ratings put the president at a 40% approval and 56% disapproval mark.
Aggregations of recent approval polling from The New York Times and RealClearPolitics place Trump’s approval between 44% and 45%, respectively, with disapproval rates of 53% and 50%, as of Aug. 24.
A historical analysis and average by Gallup shows Trump’s approval ratings in the first July of both of his terms are lower than those of any other modern president. In comparison, former President Joe Biden had a 50% average approval rating in July 2021, while former President Barack Obama’s first and second-term July approval ratings were 57% and 46%, respectively. Gallup’s analysis puts Trump’s second-term average to date at 42%.
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