WASHINGTON, D.C. — Key members of President Donald Trump’s political base — Republicans, conservatives and men — show higher approval of his job performance at the beginning of his second term compared with the start of his first. His ratings have also improved among Hispanic, Black and young adults, although approval remains relatively low among these traditionally Democratic groups.
Increases in approval of Trump among these groups have more than offset decreased support from Democrats, liberals and seniors. Political independents and women show no change in their support for Trump between the initial months of his first versus second term.
Overall, Trump has averaged 45% approval in Gallup polls conducted between January and March of this year, slightly better than the 42% average during the same months in 2017.
These results are based on combined data from Gallup’s first three polls during Trump’s second term, conducted in January, February and March. The latest March 3-16 survey finds 43% of Americans approving of Trump, similar to the 45% from February but down from his 47% post-inauguration rating.
Trump’s average approval rating across the three readings is five percentage points higher among Republicans and seven points higher among conservatives than at the same point in his first term. Much of the increase in approval among other demographic subgroups, such as for men (up six points), young adults (up six points), Black adults (up nine points) and Hispanic adults (up 15 points), primarily reflects higher Republican party identification and leaning among these groups over the past three years.
In addition to Republicans and political conservatives, Trump earns relatively high approval ratings from men (54%) and non-Hispanic White adults (51%). Half of upper-income adults, Southern residents and married adults also approve of the job Trump is doing.
Trump’s weakest groups include Democrats, liberals, Black adults, women, young adults, lower-income adults and Hispanic adults.
Though doing better now than at the start of his first term, Trump remains below his peak popularity from January to May 2020, the time spanning his acquittal on his first impeachment charges and the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and before George Floyd’s murder. During that period, an average of 47% of Americans approved of Trump’s presidency. He had higher support among White adults (57%), senior citizens (51%), political independents (42%) and women (42%) in early 2020 than he does now, though his support among Black adults today exceeds what it was then (16%). His support among Republicans and men matches what it was five years ago.
Trump’s Issue Ratings Underwater
The March poll also asked Americans to assess how Trump is handling eight different policy issues. Consistent with Trump’s 53% overall job disapproval rating in March, majorities of Americans disapprove of his performance on all but one of the issues — energy policy — for which just under half, 47%, disapprove, while 45% approve.
Trump receives a 39% approval rating for his management of relations with Russia, 41% each for the economy, foreign affairs, the environment and the situation in Ukraine, 43% for the federal budget, and 44% for relations with the news media.
Approval ratings for Trump’s handling of the economy, foreign affairs and the situation in Ukraine are largely unchanged from February. The March poll was conducted as negotiations with Ukraine restarted after a contentious Feb. 28 Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prompted Trump to pause intelligence sharing and military aid.
Partisans’ ratings of Trump’s handling of the eight issues are sharply polarized, with 83% to 90% of Republicans approving of each. At the same time, no more than 6% of Democrats approve of his performance on any of the issues, and independents’ approval ratings range from 32% to 41%.
Opinions of Trump Held Strongly
As a follow-up to the overall job approval question, Gallup asked Americans who either approve or disapprove of Trump whether they do so “strongly” or “moderately.” Most Americans have strong opinions, including 32% who approve strongly and 46% who disapprove strongly of how Trump is handling his job.
This strength of approval/disapproval question was asked at least once in each year of Trump’s first term. Between 2017 and 2020, he earned strong approval ratings from 26% to 33% of Americans, and strong disapproval ratings from 36% to 44% of Americans.
Partisans’ current views of Trump are highly polarized — 91% of Democrats strongly disapprove of Trump’s performance, while 78% of Republicans strongly approve. Forty-six percent of independents strongly disapprove, and 20% strongly approve.
The 78% of all Americans holding strong opinions of Trump — either strongly approving or strongly disapproving — essentially ties as the highest Gallup has measured for a president. In 1991, shortly after the U.S. victory in the Gulf War, 79% had strong opinions of George H.W. Bush, with all but 5% of that showing strong approval of Bush. In Trump’s first term, between 67% and 73% of U.S. adults held strong opinions of his job performance.
Bottom Line
Trump’s early first-term ratings were the lowest Gallup has measured for a newly inaugurated president. His second-term ratings are slightly better, largely because of higher ratings among his fellow Republicans and conservatives. Trump is also aided by a larger share of Americans identifying as Republican or leaning Republican than was the case during his first term. That has led to higher approval among certain demographic segments — Black, Hispanic and young adults — than Trump had eight years ago, even if those groups still largely disapprove of how Trump is doing his job.
The higher rate of Republican Party affiliation today than in 2017 could be related to Trump’s greater popularity now. But it could also be driven by unhappiness with the Democratic Party during Joe Biden’s presidency. Going forward, it’s likely that the Republican Party’s strength will depend on Trump maintaining strong support from traditionally Republican groups while expanding his appeal at least somewhat among Democratic-leaning groups.
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Explore President Trump’s approval ratings and compare them with those of past presidents in the Gallup Presidential Job Approval Center.
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