As of August 2025, six months into Donald Trump’s second term as US President, his approval ratings hover between 37% and 50% across national polls, reflecting a polarised public despite legislative successes like the “Big Beautiful Bill” and widespread tariffs on imports from 180 countries.
These ratings mark the lowest point of his second term, revealing challenges in maintaining broad support. Polls conducted in July 2025 provide a snapshot of Trump’s approval ratings.
USA TODAY, reporting on the polls conducted by various organisations in July, said that in the Gallup Poll (7–21 July 2025), Trump’s approval stood at 37%, with 58% disapproval, the lowest of his second term. This was a 10-point drop from the 47% approval at the start of his term in January 2025.
Support among independents was at 29%, down 17 points from January, while Republicans’ support remained at 89%. Democratic approval was a mere 2%.
Reuters/Ipsos Poll (15–16 July 2025) reported 41% approval and 54% disapproval, unchanged from June. Again, it reflected Trump’s lowest approval in this poll series. A third of independents approved. Among Republicans approval was 83%, but among Democrats it was only 3%.
Fox News (Beacon Research/Shaw & Co., 18–21 July 2025) showed 46% approval and 54% disapproval among 1,000 registered voters. In the Fox News poll, Trump’s performance in border security got 56% approval, while inflation and tariffs got only 36% support.
Emerson Poll (21–22 July 2025) reported 46% approval and 47% disapproval. Immigration was the strongest point for Trump, showing 45% approval.
Trafalgar/InsiderAdvantage Poll (July 2025) showed 50% approval and 48% disapproval, indicating slight majority support. Rasmussen Reports (28 July 2025) showed 47% approval and 51% disapproval, down from 52% approval on 29 May.
New York Times Polling Average (4 August 2025) indicated 44% approval and 53% disapproval.
Slide Since January
Trump’s approval ratings were lower than at the start of his term, with disapproval often exceeding approval. The political climate is polarised with Republicans strongly supporting him and independents and Democrats being against him, with the Democrats being strongly opposed.
Key Issues: Immigration
Immigration has been a cornerstone of Trump’s platform, yet public approval of his handling of the issue has waned. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research noted a 6-point drop in approval from March to July 2025, while Reuters/Ipsos reported 41% approval.
The “visceral” images of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, often targeting non-criminal undocumented immigrants, had alienated some voters who supported Trump’s campaign focus on deporting criminals only.
The discrepancy between campaign promises and implementation had hurt his standing, despite a reported drop in illegal border crossings to historic lows.
Economy and Tariffs
Trump’s economic policies, particularly his tariffs on 180 countries on 1 and 9 August, aimed to bolster American jobs and revenue. While he secured trade deals with partners like the European Union, public perception of his tariff strategy was mixed.
The Hill cites Charles Franklin of the Marquette Law School Poll, saying that fears of tariffs causing economic downturns had not fully materialised. This helped Trump maintain 90% support among Republicans. However, the back-and-forth announcements on tariffs and the delays in making decisions were seen as erratic, dragging down overall approval.
Inflation has remained stable, and the stock market has risen, but those gains have not translated into widespread public support, with only 36% approving Trump’s handling of inflation as per the Fox News poll.
Unfulfilled Promises
Jonathan Hanson, a political science professor at the University of Michigan, told The Hill that Trump’s inability to lower prices or resolve conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East was a key factor in his declining approval rating.
Despite legislative successes like the “Big Beautiful Bill” and executive actions reducing federal workers, these policies had not resonated with the broader public.
Hanson noted that while Trump had momentum in implementing his vision, many of these policies turned out to be unpopular, contributing to his low ratings among independents and Democrats.
Brighter Side
Despite the polling challenges, Trump has achieved significant policy victories, particularly for conservative voters. The Los Angeles Times, in a piece by Josh Hammer, credits Trump with a fast-paced start to his second term.
The stock market has risen significantly, tariffs are generating substantial Treasury revenue, and Trump renewed his 2017 tax cuts while adding tax breaks on tips and overtime pay. Major trade deals have been finalised, and blue-chip companies have announced significant investments in the US.
Trump has targeted the administrative state, consolidating executive power through court wins and executive orders. He has protected women’s sports and female inmates from policies involving biological males, restricted transgender medical interventions for minors, and partially defunded Planned Parenthood. His efforts against “diversity, equity, and inclusion” initiatives have resonated with conservatives.
Illegal border crossings have dropped to historic lows, fulfilling a key campaign promise.
In foreign policy, Trump’s limited incursion in the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict in 2025 weakened Iran’s nuclear programme without American casualties. NATO nations are increasing defence spending, and Trump has brokered peace between India and Pakistan. However, a Russia-Ukraine peace deal remains elusive.
These achievements have solidified Trump’s 90% approval among Republicans, but they have not broadened his appeal to independents or Democrats, limiting his overall approval rating.
Honeymoon Doesn’t Last Forever
A fall in approval over time has to be expected. Former President Joe Biden’s approval also dropped to the low-40s after an initial honeymoon period. Public opinion shifts as voters react to policy changes, often turning against presidents.
The Hill predicted that Trump’s low ratings could impact the Republican Party’s prospects, given the fact that the 22nd Amendment of the US Constitution prevents him from running for a third term.
Strong Republican support contrasts with weak backing from independents and Democrats, highlighting the challenges of governing in a divided nation. As Trump continues his term, his ability to address these key issues will determine whether his ratings recover or further decline, with implications for the Republican Party’s future.
Yearning for Peace in Ukraine
According to a poll conducted by the American sociological service Gallup, the share of Ukrainians who favoured a peaceful resolution of the conflict with Russia has tripled since 2022 to 69%.
In 2022, 73% of respondents were in favour of continuing the war to a victorious end, while 22% of respondents believed that Kiev should strive to end the conflict as soon as possible through negotiations. Now these figures are 24% and 69%, respectively.
But only 25% of Ukrainians believe that the fighting could end within the next 12 months.
About 1,000 of the country’s residents over the age of 15 took part in the survey.
After a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday, US President Trump said that he saw good prospects for resolving the conflict and holding a meeting with both Putin and Vladimir Zelensky.
The New York Times later reported that Washington was planning a Russia-US summit first, and then a trilateral meeting with Zelensky.
On Thursday, Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov said that Russia and the United States had agreed on a meeting between Putin and Trump in Alaska on 15 August.
Therefore, Trump has another chance to pull it off on the Ukrainian front and get his fellow Americans a good deal besides peace in Europe.