U.S. President Donald Trump
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President Donald Trump's approval rating and public confidence in his leadership have declined in recent weeks, according to new polling, signaling growing skepticism about his performance early in his second term.
A Pew Research Center survey found that 37 percent of Americans approve of Trump's job performance, down from 40 percent in the previous measurement. Half of respondents said his actions as president have been worse than expected, while only 21 percent said they have been better than expected.
Support for Trump's policies has also weakened according to the survey. Just 27 percent of Americans said they support all or most of his policies, a drop from 35 percent. The decline was driven in part by Republicans, among whom support fell from 67 percent to 56 percent. However, the survey also pointed to shifting attitudes within the president's own party as 61 percent of Republicans said GOP lawmakers are not obligated to support Trump if they disagree with him, suggesting a loosening of automatic party loyalty.
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Only 34 percent of Americans expressed confidence in Tump's leadership skills, while 21 percent said they trust him to act ethically in office. Sixty percent said they have little or no confidence in his ethical conduct. Nearly half of Americans said they believe Trump will be unsuccessful in the long run, underscoring uncertainty about the trajectory of his presidency.
Partisan divisions remain sharp as 82% of Democrats said their leaders should stand up to Trump even if it slows legislative progress, while the erosion of support among Republicans suggests that dissatisfaction with his performance is not limited to political opponents.
Other recent polling indicates that broader voter sentiment aligns with these findings. A New York Times/Siena College survey from earlier this week found Trump's overall approval at 40 percent, with 56 percent disapproving. Nearly half of voters in that poll said the country is worse off than when his second term began, and a majority, 57 percent, said the president is focused on the wrong priorities.
Economic concerns emerged as a central factor shaping public opinion. In the Times/Siena poll, 51 percent of respondents said Trump's policies had made life less affordable, while only 24 percent said he had improved affordability. Voters also expressed dissatisfaction with his handling of major issues such as immigration, foreign policy, and the war in Ukraine, with independent voters particularly critical of his performance.
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Tags: Republican Party, Donald Trump, Trump administration, Survey, Pew research center