Americans Are Souring on Trump Since Second Term Began, New Poll Shows
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Half of U.S. adult citizens have a worse view of President Donald Trump since his second term began in January, according to a new poll from YouGov.
Why It Matters
Trump has routinely touted positive approval ratings and polling while speaking at news conferences and campaign rallies. But, declines in his numbers could ultimately hinder his political clout in an already highly polarized climate as 2026 midterms close in.
When Trump returned to the White House in January, he coasted in with high approval figures. But the number of respondents who say they have had their opinion worsen comes after months marked by economic strife and criticism over other policies like the president's handling of immigration and his recently passed tax bill.
The up and down nature of approval polls can paint a picture of the landscape heading into 2026 elections where Democrats hope to regain control of the House and the Senate.
President Donald Trump can be seen delivering remarks while meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office at the White House on July 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
President Donald Trump can be seen delivering remarks while meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office at the White House on July 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Photo byWhat To Know
In the YouGov poll released Monday, 2104 U.S. adult citizens were polled whether their opinion of the president has changed since he started his second term. The poll shows 22 percent say they have an improved opinion of Trump, 24 percent say their opinion has not changed, and 50 percent say they have a worse opinion.
The survey was taken from July 9 to July 13 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percent.
The poll also shows that 39 percent approve of the way Trump is handling his job as president versus 56 percent who disapprove. Four percent are not sure.
The survey shows that 16 percent of 2024 Trump voters say their opinion of the president has worsened as well as 54 percent of independents.
The president received his highest approval ratings on key administration initiatives including national security, border security, and immigration, the survey shows.
In a similar YouGov poll taken from April 25 to May 2 among 2220 U.S. adult citizens, the president had a 42 percent approval rating versus a 52 percent disapproval rating, and six percent were not sure.
In recent weeks, the president has, however, made gains with millennials and baby boomers, according to some polling.
What People Are Saying
Columbia University Political Science Professor Robert Y. Shapiro told Newsweek via email on Monday when asked if the sliding opinions could be attributed to one thing: "I would attribute this to the cumulation of things Trump has said and done—the net of the bad news to good news people have perceived bearing on his performance in office, with people perceiving more bad than good news about him. But this does not say very much in fact, because these perceptions are biased by people's approval of him to begin with. He has had net disapproval in his performance/popularity rating, and these survey responses mainly reflect this. The 50 percent who say 'worsened' is in the range of the percent who have regularly disapproved of his performance in office."
Fox News co-host Jessica Tarlov, on X, formerly Twitter in March: "Donald Trump's approval ratings are underwater across the board. Americans don't support how he is handling the economy, the federal work force, foreign policy, or trade. Which, is basically everything a President does."
Charlie Kirk, founder and CEO of conservative Turning Point USA, on X in June: "President Trump has a positive net approval rating, and no other issue contributes to his popularity more than immigration: 'He is begging for a fight on immigration because he knows what he's doing so far is working with the electorate.' Bring it on, Democrats."
What Happens Next
Analysts expect Trump's approval ratings to remain unpredictable in the weeks ahead, with fluctuations likely to reflect ongoing debates over tariffs, the economy, and foreign policy choices.
Multiple polls acknowledge that while public sentiment is trending downward, some improvement is possible if economic conditions stabilize or international tensions resolve. The outlook for Trump's coalition, especially among swing voters, will be monitored closely by both parties as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
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