A majority of Americans now disapprove of Donald Trump more than they did at the same point in his first term, according to Nate Silver, a statistician and political analyst. According to Silver, who runs the website 538, an overwhelming 55.9% of people disapprove of the president, which is one percent higher than the proportion who disapproved of him at a similar moment towards the end of 2017.
Trump's net approval rating remains slightly better than his first term, but the overall trend remains negative. Several factors are contributing to this shift in public opinion, including Trump's handling of files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, as well as his economic policies, which have caused disquiet among Americans. The recent government shutdown has also eroded confidence in the administration.
Silver attributes the growing disapproval to a broader negative polling environment surrounding Trump, with 58% of people disapproving of him and only 39% approving. Even more concerning is the perception of the economy, with 76% of voters viewing it negatively - a far higher proportion than at the end of former President Joe Biden's presidency in 2024.
Trump himself has been critical of "fake polls" that he claims are biased against Democrats and left-wing supporters, but his own approval ratings reflect a concerning trend. Mark Shanahan, an American politics professor, notes that Trump's second term is no longer marked by novelty or unpredictability, but rather by stress and negative repercussions.
As the midterm elections approach in November 2026, Trump's popularity will likely continue to fluctuate. If current trends persist, they could potentially impact Republican control of Congress and the administration's ability to push through its agenda.
Trump's net approval rating remains slightly better than his first term, but the overall trend remains negative. Several factors are contributing to this shift in public opinion, including Trump's handling of files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, as well as his economic policies, which have caused disquiet among Americans. The recent government shutdown has also eroded confidence in the administration.
Silver attributes the growing disapproval to a broader negative polling environment surrounding Trump, with 58% of people disapproving of him and only 39% approving. Even more concerning is the perception of the economy, with 76% of voters viewing it negatively - a far higher proportion than at the end of former President Joe Biden's presidency in 2024.
Trump himself has been critical of "fake polls" that he claims are biased against Democrats and left-wing supporters, but his own approval ratings reflect a concerning trend. Mark Shanahan, an American politics professor, notes that Trump's second term is no longer marked by novelty or unpredictability, but rather by stress and negative repercussions.
As the midterm elections approach in November 2026, Trump's popularity will likely continue to fluctuate. If current trends persist, they could potentially impact Republican control of Congress and the administration's ability to push through its agenda.
... I mean, you'd think that a guy who's been in office for four years would've had some sort of buffer by now 
. But instead, we're seeing his disapproval rate go up and his approval rate stay kinda steady... it's like the tide is just not turning in his favor 
.
. But 76% of voters seeing it negatively? That's a pretty clear consensus 
. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in the midterms and whether Trump's team can turn things around... or if they're just gonna keep playing catch-up 
.
to see most Americans are turnin' against him now... I mean, think about all the stuff he's been dealin' with lately, from Epstein to the shutdowns 
. It's like people are finally realizin' that maybe his approach isn't workin' out for everyone 
! I'm not surprised Trump's approval ratings are still a bit higher than they were in the beginning of his first term, but like Mark said, that novelty and unpredictability thing is gone 
. This midterm election is gonna be interesting to watch, and if current trends keep goin', we might see some big changes in Congress 
!
i mean, come on 76% of people disapproving the economy? that's not just sad it's downright scary 
. I mean, who benefits from a 76% negative view of the economy? The powers that be do, that's who 
.
. It's been a long time coming, especially with all the controversies surrounding him, like that Epstein thing... ugh 
. His economic policies have also done more harm than good for many people. The recent government shutdown was just the cherry on top.
Either way, it's good to see people holding him accountable, even if it means disapproving of him.
. It's like, what were they expecting from Trump on that front again? 
The midterm elections can't come soon enough, I hope it brings some change... but we all know how politics works 
. I'm curious to know what's changing the public's opinion, though - is it just because people are getting more info about him? 
According to Nate Silver, its all about how Trump handled Epstein and the shutdown. 
Stressful times indeed! But honestly can we talk about why people still got love for him? Like its like 39% approval? That's a small chunk of ppl who are still vibing with him 
...but at the same time, i feel bad for americans who have to deal with this on a daily basis 
...and let's not forget about the midterms in 2026, that's gonna be super interesting to watch 
...i'm hoping trump's popularity will continue to tank so republicans can lose control of congress 
So it seems like Trump's ratings are taking a hit 
, especially with all these scandals coming out about Epstein 
. I mean, can't say I'm surprised – he's been super divisive from day one. The economy is also looking pretty sketchy right now 
Can't blame people for being skeptical, but come on, we're not getting paid to lie 
I GUESS YOU COULD SAY WE'VE JUST GOT TO KNOW HIM BETTER BY NOW, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY ITS ALL ABOUT THE POLLS RIGHT?! 
. I think it's because people are finally catching on to the fact that his policies aren't really working out for them 
. Maybe Trump will surprise us and turn things around, but I'm not holding my breath 
I guess some folks just get tired of him, or maybe his economic stuff isn't workin' out as well as he thought it would. Not sure about this government shutdown thing tho... did that really happen in '25? Anyway, I'm thinkin' it's good for the republicans if Trump's popularity drops, 'cause they might actually have to listen to some of that opposing party stuff and make some real changes