Special Poll
President Donald Trump’s approval numbers are slipping sharply as concerns mount over how he’s approaching his second term, especially on the economy. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll released Wednesday shows that only 37 percent of Americans approve of how he’s handling the economy marking the lowest point for him across both of his terms.
The economic rating, seen as critical heading into 2026, has alarmed political analysts. Axios reported Thursday that Trump’s standing on the economy the most decisive issue in the last presidential election is now “worse than ever,” based on an aggregation of recent national surveys.
A separate poll by Pew Research Center found that Trump’s overall approval rating has dropped to 40 percent, while his approval on economic leadership now sits at 45 percent both the lowest levels since Pew began tracking him in 2019. These figures suggest a growing unease not necessarily with Trump’s goals, but with the way he’s pursuing them.
“Trump’s approval rating is cratering not because voters reject his goals but because they’re increasingly alarmed by his methods,” Axios noted.
Even on immigration, widely viewed as one of Trump’s strongest issues, the numbers aren’t holding up. A polling analysis by data journalist G. Elliott Morris indicated that Trump’s support is slipping there as well. “Trump is now almost underwater on approval of his handling of immigration, widely regarded as his strongest issue and 20+ points negative on inflation,” Morris posted this week. “In 3 short months, he has completely lost his advantage on both the issues voters elected him to fix.”
Gallup polling added to the grim outlook, showing that for the first time in more than two decades most Americans now feel their personal financial situations are getting worse. That’s a significant reversal from just a few months ago, when confidence was higher following Trump’s return to office.
Meanwhile, public frustration appears to be growing over the president’s controversial use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport migrants. In the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a legal resident from Maryland who was wrongly deported to a prison in El Salvador, a new YouGov survey found that half of respondents believe Trump should bring him back to the United States. Only 28 percent said he should remain abroad.
Trump’s handling of the matter and his broader disregard for court rulings ordering Garcia’s return has raised concerns across party lines. For a president elected on promises of strong economic leadership and tough immigration enforcement, the recent wave of polling suggests that many Americans are now skeptical of whether those promises are being fulfilled or are coming at too high a cost.