Donald Trump’s approval rating has dropped to its lowest point since returning to the White House, reflecting growing discomfort among Americans with his aggressive policies and power grabs. Despite the dip to 42%, his numbers still surpass Joe Biden’s average approval throughout his presidency, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll that highlights shifting public sentiment during Donald Trump’s second term.
The poll, which concluded on Monday, showed that only 42% of respondents approved of Donald Trump’s performance—a notable drop from 43% three weeks earlier and 47% just after his inauguration in January. While a one-point drop may seem minor, it marks a steady decline since his return to office and signals waning public support amid a series of controversial decisions.
Donald Trump’s approval is being tested by a flurry of executive orders and controversial power moves. Since taking office in January 2025, Donald Trump has wasted no time in issuing sweeping directives aimed at fulfilling campaign promises. Many of these orders seek to extend presidential control into traditionally independent institutions, including universities and cultural bodies. However, several have been challenged and blocked by federal courts, reflecting a growing institutional pushback.
His move to appoint himself as board chair of the Kennedy Center—an iconic arts and culture venue—has also raised eyebrows. This, along with his threats to cut funding for non-compliant universities, appears to be contributing to public unease. Poll findings show that 66% of respondents oppose presidential control over cultural institutions, while 57% disagreed with the idea of defunding universities based on ideological differences. Notably, a third of those who disagreed identified as Republicans.
Public disapproval growing across issues
The Reuters/Ipsos poll, which surveyed 4,306 adults with a margin of error of ±2 percentage points, highlighted broader dissatisfaction with Donald Trump’s handling of major national issues. On immigration—historically one of his strongholds—only 45% supported his current stance, while 46% expressed dissatisfaction.
Donald Trump’s ratings also suffered on other critical fronts like inflation, taxation, and America’s global standing. A majority of 59% believed the U.S. is losing international credibility under his leadership.
Third term ambitions meet strong resistance
Despite constitutional limits, Donald Trump has floated the idea of running for a third term. This has been met with resistance from the public, with three-quarters of respondents opposing the notion. Surprisingly, even among Republicans, 53% expressed disapproval of the idea, showing signs of internal party fatigue with Donald Trump’s extended political ambitions.
