United States President Donald Trump’s approval rating has plummeted to 40%, the lowest level of his second term in office. According to a recent poll conducted by Reuters and Ipsos, Americans are increasingly concerned about Trump’s handling of the economy and immigration. The three-day poll surveyed 1,023 US adults nationwide and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
The poll revealed a nation deeply polarized over Trump, with 83% of Republicans and just 3% of Democrats approving of his performance. About one-third of independents approved. Trump’s approval rating on immigration has fallen to its lowest point since his second term began, with 41% of Americans approving of his management of immigration compared to 48% in January. In contrast, 51% of respondents disapproved, and 8% were undecided.
Donovan Baldwin, an 18-year-old from Asheboro, North Carolina, expressed his concerns about Trump’s aggressive approach to immigration, saying, “I understand wanting to get rid of illegal immigrants, but the way that’s being done is very aggressive… And that’s why people are protesting, because it comes off as aggression. It’s not right.” This sentiment is echoed in another poll conducted by CNN and SSRS, which found that 55% of US adults believe Trump has gone too far in deporting undocumented immigrants, an increase of 10 percentage points since February.
The economy is another area where Trump faces criticism. Although 38% of respondents approved of Trump’s handling of the economy, up from 35% in the mid-July Reuters poll, the CNN poll found that ratings of Trump’s economic management have been persistently negative in his second term. Many Americans are worried about the negative effects of Trump’s tariffs, with some giving him the benefit of the doubt despite concerns about his style and substance.
Brian Nichols, a 58-year-old from Albuquerque, New Mexico, who voted for Trump in 2024, said, “We put him into office for a reason, and we should be trusting that he’s doing the job for the best of America.” However, Nichols also expressed concerns about Trump’s social media presence and tariffs. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Trump’s approval ratings will impact his presidency.¹