What is the American public’s verdict on the first year of Donald Trump’s second term as President?

Written by Times Media

A reflection on the second term of Donald Trump's presidency

In short: the verdict is decidedly mixed, leaning negative.

Trump’s overall job-approval ratings are stuck in the high 30s to low 40s %, well below a majority of Americans.
The public remains deeply polarized: overwhelming support among Republicans, overwhelming disapproval among Democrats, and a significant drop among independents.
On many major policy areas—economy, trade, energy, the budget—public sentiment is soft or declining; in some cases, Trump’s own “strengths” now appear less secure.
Importantly for his second term: while the “honeymoon” period seen for many presidents early in a term is either absent or very muted, the downward trend in approval (especially among independents) suggests diminished momentum.
In international perception, U.S. leadership under Trump is viewed negatively abroad, which often correlates with domestic perceptions of competence.

The baseline numbers

Job approval

A July 2025 poll from Gallup found Trump’s overall job‐approval rating at 37% — the lowest of his second term so far — with independents approving at just 29%.
Earlier in the term, an April poll by Pew Research Center found Trump’s approval was around 40%, with 59% disapproval.
Other tracking shows approval hovering in the high 30s/low 40s with disapproval in the 50s or more. For example, a YouGov/Economist poll reported 39% approval, 57% disapproval, net -18 points.
When Trump began his second term, his approval was already historically low for a new term.

Partisan and demographic splits

Republican/Republican‐leaning respondents give Trump very strong approval (e.g., 70+% in some polls).
Democratic/ Democratic‐leaning respondents overwhelmingly disapprove (often 90%+D).
Independents are key: approval among them is low (e.g., ~29%), and their ratings have declined significantly over the first half‐year of the term.

Early expectations and perception of priorities

At ~100 days in, a survey from AP‑NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that only 31% said the presidency was “good or great”, and about half said it was “poor or terrible”. 39% gave a favorable view, 58% unfavorable.
On whether Trump is focusing on the right priorities, only about 25% said yes, while 44% said he’s focusing on the wrong priorities.

By policy area: how the public sees key issues

Economy & budget

While the economy was long considered one of Trump’s stronger areas, recent polling suggests growing unease. For example, approval of his economic handling is “underwater by -15.75 points” in one tracker.
On the federal budget and fiscal issues, the Gallup breakdown shows only 29% approve of his handling of the budget.

Trade, tariffs & government size

One Pew survey found 59% of Americans disapproved of the administration’s tariff increases.
Similarly, 55% disapproved of large cuts to federal departments and agencies.

Energy, environment & technology

The Pew report on energy (April–May 2025) found Republican support for renewables has fallen compared to the prior term.
Public interest in electric/hybrid vehicles and renewable energy remain substantial—but perceptions of the administration’s commitment to those areas are weaker.

Immigration & law enforcement

Trump has long made immigration a centerpiece, and while he had relative strength early, recent polling suggests losses: for example a Washington Post-ABC/Ipsos poll found 53% disapproval of his immigration approach.
On rule‐of‐law and executive authority: An NBC News poll found 81% believe the administration must follow federal court rulings that declare one of its actions illegal.

Foreign affairs & U.S. standing in the world

Approval is weak: Gallup found only 33% approve of his handling of Ukraine, 36% trade, 41% foreign affairs.
Internationally, a Pew global survey found that in 19 of 24 nations polled a majority express little confidence in Trump’s leadership.

Themes and interpretations

1. The “polarisation wall” remains intact

Trump remains a deeply polarising figure. Among Republicans, he enjoys near‐solid support; among Democrats, very little. That means his “ceiling” among non‐Republicans is low and appears to be shrinking. The key group is independents; their declining approval is a concern for his broader public standing.

2. No major honeymoon, possibly a “honeymoon gap”

Typically a newly inaugurated president enjoys a brief surge of goodwill (“honeymoon period”). In this case, Trump entered his second term with a historically low approval rating and has seen little sustained uptick. Instead, the numbers have drifted down. For example, Gallup’s July 2025 37% approval is lower than would normally be expected in year‐one for a two-term president.

3. Issue fatigue & drift among broader electorate

Several of Trump’s signature issues (immigration, trade, budget cuts) now face growing skepticism. The broader electorate—including independents and moderates—appear less enthused by the scale or style of his agenda. That suggests a possible weakening of the “message discipline” that carried him to victory.

4. Context: global environment, economic headwinds, and credibility

Public perception is sensitive to context: inflation, economic uncertainty, global conflicts (Ukraine, Israel-Hamas, etc.), shifting energy markets—all are in play. When the broader public sees instability or risk, leadership ratings often suffer. Moreover, Trump must contend with credibility issues (legal entanglements, executive power questions, media scrutiny) that reduce trust even among supporters of his agenda.

5. Implication: “base + weakened margins”

Effectively, Trump is currently maintaining his base support, but his margin beyond the base appears narrower. For second-term ambitions (especially if 2026/2028 electoral cycles are in view), expanding beyond the Republican base is crucial. The early signals suggest that widening the tent (or converting independents) will be challenging.

Comparisons & historical context

On entering his second term, Trump’s approval rating (~47%) was higher than some polls suggested for his first term’s start (~45% in January 2017) but still uncomfortably low compared with typical presidents.
Historically, many presidents in their second term maintain approval ratings well above 50% at this stage; Trump’s sub-40% territory puts him in the weaker half of modern presidential standings.
International reputational damage is also worse: U.S. leadership image surveys under Trump’s second term are notably worse than early terms of predecessors.

What this means for his presidency & political prospects

Governance & mandate: With less than majority support, Trump’s effective mandate is constrained. Major initiatives may face uphill public-relations battles, even if the Republican Congress remains aligned.
Messaging matters: The gap between “what Republicans approve” and “what independents/others approve” means the administration may need to adjust how it communicates—to prevent drift among non‐base groups.
Mid‐term/2028 implications: If the downward trend among independents continues, it could affect Republican fortunes in mid-term elections (2026) and re-election prospects (2028). A base‐only strategy may limit broader viability.
Policy risk: On issues where public sentiment is soft or slipping (economy, trade, budget, immigration), the administration must either win over broader constituencies or risk enforcement/policy backlash.
Leadership/style scrutiny: As approval fades slightly, questions about Trump’s leadership style, decision-making, and age/fitness (not yet deeply reflected but emerging in polls) may become more salient in the public’s mind.

Caveats & limitations

Public opinion is a snapshot: we are still early in the second term. Many major legislative or policy moves may lie ahead, which could shift public views.
Polling methods vary: approval ratings differ somewhat depending on pollster, question wording, sample, timing.
Polling reflects what people say, not necessarily how they vote, or how persuadable they are.
The partisan filter is very strong: many ratings reflect “pre-existing stance” more than pure performance assessment.

Conclusion

After roughly a year (or approaching it) into Donald Trump’s second presidential term, the American public’s verdict can be summarised as follows:

He retains solid support within his Republican base, but beyond that he is struggling to win over or hold independent/moderate voters.
His job approval ratings remain below the majority threshold, generally stuck in the high 30s to low 40s, with disapproval in the 50s or higher.
On substantive policy fronts, he faces growing headwinds in public perception—for example, economy, trade, budget, immigration. His earlier “strong suits” are less bulwark than they once were.
Historically, his numbers place him toward the weaker end of modern second‐term presidents.
The political implication: his ability to broaden appeal, maintain momentum, and secure a stronger public mandate appears more limited than one might expect for a second-term Republican president.

In short: the verdict is not disastrous for Trump—his core support remains—but it is challenging. If his administration hopes to build a lasting legacy or secure dominance beyond the base, it will need to turn around the perceptions among independents and moderates and show that it can deliver results or at least assuage concerns in key areas.