President Donald Trump has proclaimed that America is “back” as he highlights his numerous achievements, some of which have sparked controversy, since assuming office nine weeks ago.
According to Fox News, Trump has swiftly expanded his executive authority through a series of executive orders and actions, challenged established government policies, and significantly reduced the federal workforce during his second term. Reports indicate that he has signed approximately 100 executive orders since his inauguration on January 20, a rate that surpasses that of any recent president in their initial weeks in office.
Despite the president’s assertion that “a lot of great things are happening,” recent polls indicate that many Americans do not share his optimistic perspective regarding his performance. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted over the weekend of March 22–23 revealed that 46% of respondents approved of Trump, while 51% believed he was not effectively leading the country. This survey included just over 1,000 adults nationwide.
Notably, the poll was primarily conducted prior to the controversy surrounding senior White House national security officials discussing sensitive operational details of an impending U.S. military strike in Yemen via the messaging app Signal, which may have violated federal law.
In a more recent national poll conducted by Fox News from March 14–17, there was a slight increase in support for Trump, with 49% of respondents approving of his job performance and 51% disapproving, reflecting a divided opinion among Americans.
Current national polls assessing the president’s approval ratings indicate that Trump’s numbers remain relatively low. Since the start of his second term, when his approval ratings averaged in the low 50s and disapproval in the mid-40s, there has been a slight decline in his figures. Concerns regarding the economy and the potential inflationary impact of Trump’s tariffs on America’s primary trading partners are contributing factors to this sentiment.
A recent Fox News poll indicates that 49% of respondents express support for the president. This approval rating matches the peak level Trump achieved in Fox News polls, which he last reached in April 2020, towards the conclusion of his first term. Notably, this figure is six points higher than his approval rating at the same time during his initial term, which stood at 43% in March 2017. Throughout most of his first term, Trump’s approval ratings were predominantly negative, according to various polls.
“Consider these figures in context. The current average is still higher than any point during his first presidency,” remarked veteran Republican pollster Neil Newhouse in an interview with Fox News. Daron Shaw, a member of the Fox News Decision Team and a Republican partner in the Fox News Poll, emphasized that “the difference is primarily due to the unification of the Republican base.”
“The party is entirely united behind him,” Shaw, who is also a politics professor and chair at the University of Texas, noted, pointing out that Trump did not enjoy such unwavering support from Republicans at the beginning of his first term, when he faced challenges from some within the party.
Newhouse further confirmed that Trump’s Republican base remains firmly supportive of him.
The narrative surrounding Trump’s popularity remains consistent.
