As President Donald Trump pushes ahead with an aggressive second-term agenda marked by sweeping immigration crackdowns, economic overhauls, and deep institutional cuts, new polling reveals that his job approval remains relatively steady if persistently low among the American public.
According to a July survey by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, only 40% of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s performance, reflecting little change from the 42% approval recorded in March. Analysts say this plateau signals both unwavering support from his political base and hardened opposition from critics, even amid controversial policy shifts.
In San Diego, 76-year-old Eric Hildenbrand is one of the voters keeping faith in the Republican president he helped re-elect in 2024. Although he acknowledges the persistent rise in prices in California, Hildenbrand blames state-level Democratic leadership rather than Trump.
“You can’t compare California with the rest of the country,” he said. “It seems like prices are dropping. Things are getting better, but I don’t necessarily see it here.”
Such sentiments explain Trump’s unique polling pattern. Unlike past presidents whose approval ratings dipped or rose with policy successes or failures, Trump’s numbers have largely hovered between 33% and 43% over the last five years. This consistency defies traditional political dynamics and suggests that Trump’s personality, rather than his policies, often drives public opinion.
Still, there are signs of softening in some key areas. Support for Trump’s handling of immigration once a cornerstone of his campaign is slipping. The same July AP-NORC poll found 43% approval on immigration, down from nearly 50% earlier in the year. A separate CNN/SSRS poll revealed that 55% of Americans believe Trump has gone too far with his immigration deportation measures.
“I understand wanting to get rid of illegal immigrants, but the way that’s being done is very aggressive,” said Donovan Baldwin, 18, of Asheboro, North Carolina.
Meanwhile, Trump’s economic policies are receiving lukewarm reviews. Once credited with boosting the economy in his first term, the president is now facing growing skepticism. Most respondents in the AP-NORC poll said they have yet to see any direct benefits from Trump’s tax and spending reforms.
For supporters like Brian Nichols, 58, of Albuquerque, the trade-offs are acceptable—for now.
“I’m not in favor of everything, especially the social media stuff and the push to eliminate agencies,” Nichols said. “But we put him into office for a reason, and we should be trusting that he’s doing the job for the best of America.”
Despite moments of discord, Trump’s base remains largely intact, sustained by a sense that he is delivering on promises, even at personal or political cost. Kim Schultz, 62, of Springhill, Florida, says she supports Trump’s firm stance on immigration and sees tariffs as a necessary sacrifice.
“If the tariffs are going to cost me a little bit more here and there, I don’t have a problem with that,” she said.
With the Republican-controlled House and Senate providing a buffer against major legislative resistance, Trump has expanded his authority into sensitive areas from militarizing the U.S.-Mexico border to proposing the dissolution of federal institutions like the Department of Education.
The future of his second term remains uncertain, particularly with challenges looming from economic pressures and civil resistance. Yet the enduring divide in public sentiment suggests that whether admired or opposed, Trump remains a defining force in American politics.
As Hildenbrand puts it, “I’m not in favor of Trump’s personality, but I am in favor of what he’s getting done.”
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