Donald Trump’s relationship with public opinion has once again taken center stage following a series of recent polls that painted an unflattering picture of his standing among American voters. Released over the past several weeks by multiple polling organizations, the data suggest that the president continues to struggle to maintain majority approval as his second term progresses. For his part, Trump responded with characteristic force, outright rejecting the findings and accusing pollsters and media outlets of deliberate manipulation aimed at undermining his administration.
The latest wave of polling comes at a particularly delicate moment for the White House. Trump’s return to the presidency was marked by confident rhetoric and early claims of renewed momentum, particularly on economic issues. His team frequently points to easing inflation, more stable food prices, and what they describe as improving macroeconomic indicators as proof that his policies are producing results. Yet these assertions appear to clash with voter perceptions shaped by a year defined as much by controversy as by policy decisions.
Trump’s first year back in office has been anything but quiet. His aggressive immigration enforcement strategy has dominated headlines, drawing both praise from supporters and sharp criticism from opponents. At the same time, unresolved questions surrounding the Epstein files, along with a sudden diplomatic flare-up involving Greenland, have contributed to a sense of constant turbulence. Taken together, these issues have created an environment in which public opinion seems unsettled and increasingly skeptical, according to multiple polls.
One of the most widely cited surveys comes from a January study conducted by the Associated Press in partnership with the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Conducted through January 8, 2026, the poll found that 59 percent of U.S. adults disapprove of the way Trump is handling his job as president, while 40 percent approve. Beyond overall approval, the survey examined attitudes toward specific policy areas that the administration often emphasizes in public messaging.
Economic issues—a central pillar of Trump’s political identity—produced particularly stark results. Only 37 percent of respondents expressed approval of his economic performance, compared with 62 percent who disapproved. Immigration, another signature issue, showed similar results, with 38 percent approving and 61 percent disapproving. Views on foreign policy and trade negotiations mirrored this pattern, with 37 percent approving versus 61 percent disapproving.
The AP-NORC researchers emphasized that all surveys carry margins of error and that opinions can differ widely across demographic groups. Nevertheless, the broader trend is difficult to ignore, especially as similar findings have emerged from polling organizations with differing reputations and methodologies. For instance, a survey conducted by The New York Times in partnership with Siena University placed Trump’s approval rating at roughly 40 percent, with a majority of respondents dissatisfied not only with the economy but also with the overall direction of the country.
Other polls show modest variation but no dramatic reversals. The Wall Street Journal survey put Trump’s approval at 45 percent, while a Reuters poll conducted with Ipsos found it hovering around 41 percent. An average of national polls compiled by RealClearPolitics currently places Trump’s approval at approximately 42 percent, with around 55 percent of respondents disapproving.
Perhaps the most notable aspect of the polling data is its consistency. Trump’s approval rating fell below the 50 percent threshold last March and has not rebounded since. Republican pollster Daron Shaw, speaking on Fox News, noted that while support among Republican voters has remained relatively stable, opposition among Democrats has hardened over time. This growing partisan divide, he suggested, has made it difficult for Trump to improve overall numbers even if his base remains loyal.
Trump himself has dismissed the polling entirely. In a lengthy post on Truth Social, the president accused a wide range of media organizations of publishing what he described as misleading and politically motivated surveys. His criticism targeted not only outlets traditionally viewed as left-leaning but also conservative-leaning organizations that reported numbers unfavorable to him.
In his post, Trump revisited long-standing grievances about polling from previous election cycles, including the 2020 presidential race. He claimed that many polls were “knowingly wrong” and designed to shape public perception rather than accurately measure it. “Fake and Fraudulent Polling should be, virtually, a criminal offense,” he wrote, arguing that inaccurate surveys undermine democracy by discouraging voter participation and distorting public discourse.
He went further, naming major news organizations and asserting that their polling bore little resemblance to actual election outcomes in past contests. According to Trump, accurate pollsters do exist, but their work is often ignored because it fails to support what he describes as a biased media narrative. He concluded by calling the current polling environment a “SCAM” and lamenting what he views as the broader decline of American journalism.
The president’s response reflects a familiar strategy: confront unfavorable data head-on while framing it as evidence of institutional hostility. For his supporters, this approach reinforces a sense of grievance and solidarity against perceived elites. For critics, it underscores concerns about accountability and the administration’s willingness—or lack thereof—to engage seriously with empirical evidence.
Whether these polling numbers represent a temporary slump or a deeper, sustained challenge remains uncertain. Approval ratings can fluctuate in response to news events, economic developments, and shifting political narratives. With the midterm elections still months away, there is room for potential change. Yet the sustained disapproval across multiple key policy areas suggests that the administration faces more than a temporary optics problem.
What is clear is that Trump shows no inclination to soften his rhetoric or adjust his response to negative coverage. Instead, he continues to frame polling and media scrutiny as adversarial forces to be resisted rather than indicators to be addressed. As the political calendar advances and national attention gradually shifts toward the midterms, these dynamics are likely to intensify, shaping not only Trump’s public messaging but also the broader conversation around leadership, trust, and accountability in the United States.