President Donald Trump is facing the sharpest slump of his second term, as new polls show voters turning away from him on the very issues that built his political brand.
Polling from Daily Mail/JL Partners, CBS News, and YouGov all show a decline in Trump’s approval rating, among both Democrats and Republicans.
A Daily Mail/JL Partners survey places Trump’s approval rating at 45%, his lowest of the term and a six-point drop from the previous poll.
Highlights
- Trump’s approval rating has dropped sharply to 45%, the lowest of his second term, with a six-point decline since the last poll.
- Voters are dissatisfied with Trump’s handling of the economy, immigration, and governance, with inflation and tariffs driving disapproval.
- Approval among key demographics fell: 36% young voters, 36% Hispanic voters, and 24% Black voters support Trump now.
- 76% say Trump would need congressional approval before military action in Venezuela and feel Trump hasn’t clearly explained his position.
New polls show that Trump is facing the lowest approval ratings since the start of his second term
Image credits: Allison Robbert/Getty Images
Over the last two months, his support has fallen 10 points, marking a dramatic reversal from the momentum he carried after his re-election a year ago.
The poll, conducted from November 19 to 20, indicates that voters are growing increasingly frustrated with three key areas: Trump’s handling of the economy, immigration, and his overall approach to governing.
Americans who list inflation as their top issue gave Trump only 40% approval. Voters who prioritize economic growth score him only slightly higher at 44%.
Image credits: The Daily Mail
While inflation has moderated from its 2022 peak, Americans don’t seem to agree with the White House’s claims that Trump is boosting the economy, especially as his tariffs push up the price of goods.
Apparel and textiles have risen between 8% and 17%, and some grocery items have climbed as much as 25% since the tariffs took effect.
The administration has responded by carving out limited tariff exceptions on items such as coffee and bananas.
Image credits: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images
The new survey also revealed a four-point drop in net approval of ICE operations, a striking shift on an issue that once united his base.
“We’re watching the immigrant community be policed and surveilled inhumanely and without regard,” immigration attorney Benjamin Peña told The Daily Mail.
“I think that if you’re witnessing what’s happening, the human element plays a key role.”
Demographic groups that once powered Trump’s victories are also drifting away. Only 36% of young voters and 36% of Hispanic voters now approve of his job performance. Among Black voters, approval dropped to 24%.
Even some of Trump’s loyal supporters in Congress have parted ways with him, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, who retired mid-term after falling out with the president.
“If you don’t deliver what you promise, then don’t expect return customers,” she said about the Trump administration after Republicans witnessed multiple losses in local elections.
Health care is another emerging pressure point. The White House’s struggle to assemble a plan to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies before they expire at the end of February has not gone unnoticed.
Key issues Americans are unsatisfied with are the economy, immigration, and government policies
Image credits: CBS News
A key issue discussed was the U.S. military action in Venezuela. Americans did not see Venezuela as a threat to the U.S. and are largely opposed to potential military action.
Three in four Americans said that Trump would need congressional approval, which he did not get, before taking military action in Venezuela.
Seventy-six percent of voters said Trump had not explained the position of the U.S. on military action in Venezuela, with 97% Democrats, 64% Republicans, and 86% independent voters further agreeing that Trump needs to explain his decisions.
Image credits: CBS News
Americans also said in the CBS Poll that Trump describes grocery prices and inflation as better than they really are, with more than half of respondents believing that Trump’s policies are playing a part in price hikes.
A third poll shows similar responses. According to recent polling from YouGov analyzed by The Economist, Trump has a net approval rating of -16%, with 40% of Americans approving of his job and 57% disapproving.
Image credits: The Economist
The poll found the biggest declines to be among Americans under 30, whose net approval has dropped from +3 at the start of his term to -41.
Hispanic and Black Americans, who already had low support, are also showing stronger disapproval.
Even white Americans, who had a net +16 in January, now view him slightly negatively.
Trump’s popularity has fallen in almost every state, except for Idaho. The poll found that issues driving the decline include inflation, prices, taxes, jobs and the economy, immigration, and national security.
Image credits: The Economist
The new numbers suggest that Trump’s early second-term honeymoon has ended, and that the Trump administration now has to address many growing concerns.
“He’s [Trump] secured the border; tackled Biden's inflation crisis; lowered drug prices; ended taxes on tips, overtime, and social security; cooled inflation; deported criminal illegal aliens; implemented important reforms putting American workers first; and more,” a White House representative told The Daily Mail.