Trump Rated Best on Terrorism, the Economy; Better on Taxes

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Donald Trump's job approval ratings on various issues range from 34% of Americans approving of how he is managing relations with the news media to 52% approving of his handling of terrorism. Trump also earns bare majority approval, 51%, on the economy. But Americans view him significantly more negatively than positively on the federal budget, immigration, North Korea, relations with Russia and foreign affairs generally, in addition to the media.

	Approve	Disapprove	Net approve
	%	%	pct. pts.
Terrorism	52	46	+6
The economy	51	47	+4
Foreign trade	46	49	-3
Taxes	46	52	-6
The situation with North Korea	41	55	-14
Immigration	41	58	-17
Foreign affairs	39	59	-20
The federal budget	37	59	-22
Relations with Russia	37	59	-22
Relations with the news media	34	65	-31
Gallup, Feb. 1-10, 2018

 

While 52% of Americans disapprove of how Trump has handled taxes, his 46% approval rating on the issue in the Feb. 1-10 poll is up from 37% in November, prior to passage and implementation of the Republicans' tax reform plan. It is also the highest of his presidency on taxes, with the only other reading being 35% last June.

Several of Trump's other relatively positive issue ratings in the poll roughly match or exceed his previous high points:

• His 52% approval rating on terrorism is up from 46% last June, the only prior measure.
• His 51% approval rating on the economy is up from 45%, while it matches his score in September.
• His 46% approval on foreign trade is on par with a 45% approval score last February, the only previous rating on this issue.

Although relations with Russia ranks as one of Trump's weakest areas, the 37% of Americans approving today is a slight improvement from 30% last June.

The 41% who currently approve of Trump's handling of the situation with North Korea is also up slightly -- from 35% in November -- although it is similar to the 45% measured in September.

Meanwhile, the president's low approval ratings on immigration, the federal budget and relations with the news media are all in line with previous measures since he took office.

Republican Approval on Issues Ranges From 66% to 92%

Supporters of Trump's own party are largely positive about how he has handled all 10 issues rated in the new poll. However, the rank order of GOP approval is similar to that seen nationally, with 92% approving of him on terrorism and 90% on the economy, while far fewer, 66% approve of his handling of relations with the news media.

The order is similar among independents, although Trump's highest approval scores from this group -- twin 47% readings for terrorism and the economy -- fall short of majority approval.

Approval of Trump is low across the board among Democrats, with no more than 18% approving on any issue, and in several cases, less than 10%.

	Republicans	Independents	Democrats
	%	%	%
Terrorism	92	47	17
The economy	90	47	18
Taxes	84	40	15
North Korea	81	35	8
Immigration	80	36	8
Foreign trade	80	42	16
Foreign affairs	79	34	6
Russia	73	30	8
The federal budget	72	30	12
News media	66	29	7
Gallup, Feb. 1-10, 2018

Independents Warm Slightly to Trump on the Economy, Taxes

Trump's improved scores this month on the economy and taxes each reflect seven-percentage point increases in his approval ratings on these issues from independents since November.

At the same time, the uptick in his approval rating on terrorism since last June mainly reflects improved support from Republicans and, to a lesser extent, from Democrats.

	Republicans	Independents	Democrats
	%	%	%
Economy
2018 Feb 1-10	90	47	18
2017 Nov 2-8	89	40	19
Taxes
2018 Feb 1-10	84	40	15
2017 Nov 2-8	82	33	9
Terrorism
2018 Feb 1-10	92	47	17
2017 Jun 7-11	80	48	13
Gallup

Bottom Line

Trump's weekly overall job approval rating has ranged between 35% and 40% for most of his presidency. Nevertheless, his ratings on certain issues differ from his job approval numbers.

This month, he earns significantly better than 40% approval on terrorism, the economy, foreign trade and taxes, and below 35% approval for his handling of the news media. His ratings for all other issues fall closer to the band typically seen for Trump's overall job approval rating.

Trump is at or near the high points of his approval ratings on several of these issues, in part owing to improved ratings from independents. It will be important to see if this continues, as he needs to make such inroads with independents if he is ever going to expand his U.S. political base beyond the limited group that has supported him to date.

Explore President Trump's approval ratings and compare them with those of past presidents in the Gallup Presidential Job Approval Center.