President Donald Trump is facing growing disapproval from the American public during his second term in office, with the latest numbers showing a clear downward trend in how people feel about his leadership. A new poll conducted by Economist/YouGov asked 1,680 adults across the country how they view the job Trump is doing as president. The results show that 55% of respondents disapprove of his performance, which is the highest disapproval rating he’s received since beginning his second term. Only 41% said they approve of the way he is handling the presidency.
This marks a noticeable shift from just a week earlier, when 53% of people disapproved and 42% approved. It’s an even bigger change compared to the beginning of the year, when Trump had more people in his corner — 49% approval versus 43% disapproval. The numbers suggest that the longer he’s in office this term, the more people are becoming dissatisfied with how he’s running the country.
Much of this decline seems to be coming from Democrats and independent voters. At the start of the year, 12% of Democrats said they approved of Trump, which was already low. Now, that number has dropped even further to just 3%. Independent voters are also turning away. Back in January, 41% of independents gave him a positive rating. Today, only 29% still support him.
One issue that may be adding to the frustration among voters, including some of Trump’s own supporters, is the recent controversy over the Jeffrey Epstein case. Earlier this month, the Department of Justice and the FBI released information concluding that there’s no evidence Epstein was murdered and that there’s no secret list of powerful people he was supposedly blackmailing. That didn’t sit well with many of Trump’s voters, who have long believed there’s more to the Epstein story than the government is admitting.
As a result, the same poll asked people whether they believe the government is covering up information related to Epstein. A large majority — 59% — of those who said they voted for Trump in the 2024 election answered yes. This shows that even among his own base, there’s a growing sense of distrust, not only in the government but also possibly in Trump’s role or ability to get to the truth.
Overall, the numbers paint a picture of a president whose support is eroding across multiple groups. While Trump still has a loyal following, the cracks are beginning to show — not just among his political opponents, but among those who once stood firmly behind him. The mix of political missteps, controversial statements, and unresolved national issues may be taking a toll on his image, making it harder for him to maintain the strong approval he once enjoyed.
