A fresh wave of polls has emerged following a hectic week for Trump. He spoke to Congress, highlighting his administration’s recent initiatives and even giving a nod to DOGE. Earlier that day, his tariffs on Mexico and Canada took effect, sparking significant concern, but he later decided to postpone their implementation. Additionally, news surfaced about Trump’s intentions to dismantle the Department of Education, although he does not possess the authority to completely abolish the agency.
Here’s what you need to know about Trump’s approval ratings, including how they are calculated and how they stack up against his first term and previous presidents.
What is Donald Trump’s approval rating?
Here are the latest figures regarding Trump’s administration’s approval ratings:
The most recent Gallup poll indicates that Trump’s job approval rating has averaged 46% since he began his second term. In contrast, his first term saw an overall average approval rating of 41%. Throughout both terms, Trump’s approval ratings have fluctuated between 34% and 49%.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted on Tuesday, March 4, revealed that 44% of respondents rated his performance in his first month favorably. Reports suggest that public approval for his current tenure has been higher than during his first term and surpasses that of former President Joe Biden.
According to the ABC News project538 poll, Trump’s presidential performance garnered a favorability rating of 47.6% in its latest update on Tuesday, March 4. In the same polls, 54.1% of Americans expressed disapproval of Congress, while Vice President JD Vance had a slightly higher disapproval rating of 43.4%, compared to a 40.8% favorability.
The Economist’s latest update from Thursday, March 6, shows that 46% of respondents view Trump favorably, while 50% hold an unfavorable opinion of him.
How does Trump’s approval rating stack up against previous presidents?
- Joe Biden – 40%
- Donald Trump (first term) – 34%
- Barack Obama – 59%
- George W. Bush – 34%
- Bill Clinton – 66%
- George H.W. Bush – 56%
- Ronald Reagan – 63%
- Jimmy Carter – 34%
- Gerald Ford – 53%
- Richard Nixon – 24%
Are presidential approval ratings reliable?
According to Gallup, these ratings serve as a “simple yet powerful measure” that has influenced politics for over seven decades.
A president’s approval rating indicates the percentage of Americans who approve of their performance. Various factors can sway these ratings, including new legislation, executive actions, and election outcomes.
These ratings not only reflect public sentiment about the administration’s effectiveness but can also significantly impact election results and the president’s ability to implement their agenda.
While the concept of approval ratings is straightforward, some experts, like those at Quorum, argue that their relevance has diminished due to heightened partisanship and a divided political landscape.
The Pew Research Center notes, “Presidential approval ratings have always been influenced by party affiliation, with supporters of the president generally providing more favorable evaluations than those from the opposition. However, the gap between Republican and Democratic views of the president has widened considerably in recent years.”
