After more than a year back in the White House, President Donald Trump’s second term has been marked by high-profile policy moves, controversial actions abroad, and fierce national debate.
But fresh polling suggests that his efforts have yet to translate into broad public support — with many Americans skeptical of his performance on the key issues that defined his political brand.
Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has aggressively pursued an agenda focused on immigration enforcement, foreign policy realignment, economic restructuring and trade renegotiations. His administration has taken forceful stances on topics ranging from border security to military intervention abroad, and the president has defended these actions as vital to protecting American interests and fulfilling campaign promises.
Despite this flurry of activity, American voters appear largely unmoved in their assessment of his leadership. According to a January 8–11 AP-NORC Center poll, just 40 percent of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s performance as president, while a hefty 59 percent disapprove. This level of support is broadly consistent with results seen shortly after his inauguration and has shown little improvement over time.
The poll further reveals deep public dissatisfaction across key policy areas. On economic management — an issue Trump has repeatedly touted as one of his strengths — only 37 percent of respondents said they approve of his handling of the economy, with 62 percent expressing disapproval.
Similar margins appear in views of his performance on immigration, foreign affairs and trade negotiations, each posting approval ratings in the high-30s and disapproval near or above 60 percent.
Foreign policy has emerged as a particular sore point. In the same polling period, 56 percent of Americans said Trump has “gone too far” with military actions abroad — especially following the administration’s controversial intervention in Venezuela shortly after its president’s capture. Broader dissatisfaction with his leadership on foreign affairs was also evident, with foreign policy disapproval mirroring overall job disapproval in many demographic groups.
Trump’s rhetoric about extending U.S. influence into Greenland, and his hard-line posture toward Iran and other countries, has drawn notable criticism from both the public and international partners, adding another layer to concerns about his foreign engagement strategy.
Immigration — long a central pillar of Trump’s political identity — also shows waning public support. While many of his core supporters continue to applaud a tougher approach to border security, national polling indicates that a majority of Americans disapprove of how the administration has enforced immigration laws, reflecting concern about aggressive tactics and their local-level impacts.
Political analysts say that these approval numbers have both immediate and potential long-term consequences. Low public confidence in the president’s handling of economic and global issues could shape voter behavior in upcoming elections, particularly the midterms, where control of Congress will be contested. Some early midterm forecasting suggests Republicans could face headwinds if disapproval trends persist or deepen.
Despite these challenges, Trump’s base remains strongly supportive, with Republicans consistently giving him favorable marks even as independents and many moderates grow more critical. This deep partisan divide underscores broader polarization in American politics and suggests that the public’s perception of the president will remain sharply split as his second term progresses.
In summary, while Trump’s second year in office has been busy and bold in approach, recent approval polling paints a clear picture of public unease, with majorities of Americans skeptical of his leadership on the economy, foreign policy and immigration — areas that could prove decisive in shaping national politics in the months ahead.