New approval rating shows what Trump’s supporters really think of him 6 months into presidency
Recent opinion polls have given a clearer picture of how people in the U.S. feel about Donald Trump after a turbulent few weeks in his presidency.
Lately, Trump has been at the center of several controversial events. His administration is still dealing with global backlash after the U.S. launched a missile strike on Iranian nuclear sites. At home, there have been heated protests in Los Angeles against ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), which turned violent.
Trump also recently introduced a piece of legislation he’s calling the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Around the same time, he had a very public falling-out with Elon Musk, once considered a close ally. Tensions grew when Trump threatened to deport Musk, making headlines and stirring more public reaction.
In addition, Trump’s remarks about possibly deporting U.S. citizens raised alarm. These comments came during the opening of a new immigration center in Florida that he dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” The name alone caused a stir, and the suggestion of deporting Americans added to the growing unease.
Now, new polling data is showing how these recent developments are affecting Trump’s image. He’s been back in office for six months, and his approval rating has dropped. According to a survey by ActiVote, conducted in June, only 45% of people said they approve of how he’s doing his job. Meanwhile, 52% said they disapprove. This gives him a net approval rating of -7, which is the lowest he’s seen so far in this term.
Even though that number isn’t great, it’s still slightly better than his lowest ratings during his first term, when his approval fell to 41%.
He still has strong support from certain groups—mostly men, rural communities, and people between 50 and 64 years old. But the latest data suggests that swing voters—those who don’t always vote for one party—are beginning to lose faith in him.
A separate survey from Quinnipiac University, released last month, showed that only 38% of Americans approve of the job Trump is doing, while 54% do not.
When asked about major issues like the economy, immigration, and the war between Ukraine and Russia, many respondents said they were unhappy with Trump’s approach—especially when it came to the war. Only 34% said they supported how he’s handling that situation.
Polling expert Tim Malloy commented that as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues into its third year, Americans are clearly dissatisfied with how Trump is managing it.
Overall, these polls suggest Trump is facing growing criticism and challenges, even from some people who may have supported him before.
