President Donald Trump’s approval rating has started at 49% in the first Emerson College Polling survey of his new administration.
Released on Thursday, the poll shows Trump’s approval rating aligns closely with his support in the 2024 presidential election. His 41% disapproval rating is the lowest Emerson has recorded in national polls since the start of his first term, while 10% of respondents remain neutral.
Spencer Kimball, Emerson College Polling’s executive director, noted that Trump has positive approval ratings across most age groups, except for those 70 and older, where 49% disapprove and 48% approve. Among 50-to-59-year-olds, Trump holds majority support at 52%, with 34% disapproving. In the 60-to-69 age group, he has a nearly even split, with 49% approval and 48% disapproval.
Younger age groups show higher neutrality, with 13% to 16% of those aged 18 to 59 choosing a neutral stance. However, for voters 60 and older, neutrality is much lower, indicating stronger opinions on Trump in that demographic.
The survey also found a shift in national sentiment, with 52% now believing the country is heading in the right direction, compared to 48% who say it is on the wrong track. This marks a turnaround from earlier this month, when two-thirds of voters said the country was heading in the wrong direction. Kimball attributed this shift to changing Republican perceptions and a decline in independent voters who view the country negatively. While a slight majority of independents still believe the country is on the wrong track, this is a notable drop from the nearly 70% who felt that way earlier.
On immigration policy, the poll revealed mixed opinions. A slight majority (54%) support changing birthright citizenship laws so that children of immigrants without permanent legal status would not automatically receive citizenship. About 37% oppose this change, while 20% remain neutral.
Voters were more divided on Trump’s decision to reverse policies that previously barred Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from entering sensitive locations such as schools and churches. 45% oppose the change, while 42% support it.
However, there is broad support for granting a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, with 56% in favor and only 24% opposed.
The survey was conducted from January 27 to 28 among 1,000 registered voters, with a credibility interval of ±3 percentage points.