A recent poll shows that many people who voted for Donald Trump in 2024 are not eager to see him go beyond the two terms allowed by the Constitution. The Economist/YouGov survey found that 45 percent of Trump voters do not want him to serve a third term, while 43 percent do. Another 11 percent said they are unsure. Even among his strongest supporters, there seems to be fatigue and frustration with his time in office so far.
At a White House Christmas party, Trump tried to sound upbeat. He said it was “an honor” to be president and joked that the remaining years of his term “feel like an eternity.” But his light-hearted comments came just as polls are showing his approval ratings continue to fall. Under the 22nd Amendment, presidents can only serve two terms. That hasn’t stopped people like former adviser Steve Bannon from hinting that Trump might try to return again in 2028. These kinds of statements have fueled speculation for months — but the new polling suggests many Republican voters might not be on board.
Experts say these numbers should worry Trump. They show that even his loyal base may be losing enthusiasm. Thomas Whalen, a professor of U.S. politics at Boston University, explained that political movements eventually lose energy, and that Trump’s has reached that stage. He noted that the Constitution makes a third term impossible anyway, and many Americans — even devoted supporters — may feel eight years of Trump is already more than enough.
The same polling effort showed Trump’s general approval ratings are also underwater with the broader public. Among 1,628 adults surveyed, only 39 percent said they approve of how he’s doing as president, while 58 percent disapprove. Other polls from recent weeks show a similar pattern: more Americans say they would prefer Democrats in future elections, and many view Trump’s job performance negatively. One survey by the Bullfinch Group suggested that voters might shift away from Republicans in the next elections. Another YouGov poll found Trump’s approval lagging at its lowest point since he returned to the White House.
There are a few polls that offer him a slightly better outlook. A new I&I/TIPP poll puts his approval rating closer to even — 44 percent approval and 47 percent disapproval — which is an improvement from earlier in the year. Still, the overall trend points to a presidency struggling to maintain support.
Trump likes to claim that “a lot of people” want him to continue beyond two terms, and people in his circle have encouraged that idea. Bannon even declared that Trump will definitely take office again in 2028. But more recently, Trump has indicated the opposite. During a Cabinet meeting, he suggested that someone else will be the Republican nominee after him. He has named Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as potential candidates to take over when he leaves office. His comments make it sound like he may be preparing his supporters for the end of his time in the White House — at least in an official role.
Right now, what happens next depends on whether Trump can turn around the public’s opinion. His approval ratings will strongly affect the upcoming elections and the future of the Republican Party. The polls are showing that voters — including some who helped put him back into office — may already be looking ahead to new leadership and a different political chapter.
