WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s second-term strengths look different from his first, according to new polling.
Once strengthened by economic issues, Trump’s approval is now relatively low on the economy — and he’s leaning on his stronger issues of crime, border security, and immigration. Concerns about the economy and immigration helped propel him to the White House, but polling over the past year shows that Americans’ faith in the Republican president’s handling of the economy is low — particularly among independents — and his approval on immigration has fallen slightly.
Now, Trump’s strongest issues are border security and crime, but there were signs of potential weakness on crime in the most recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
At the same time, Trump’s overall approval has been fairly steady in AP-NORC polling since the beginning of his second term. This month, 39% of U.S. adults approve of how Trump is handling his job as president, returning to his average approval rating after a brief uptick in August.
In regard to his major strengths, Trump has made border security a significant theme of his second term, receiving higher approval ratings compared to previous years. Most Americans now approve of his approach to border security, a turnaround from only about 40% approval in 2019 when he was focused on funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
His approval regarding immigration also remains relatively high, even with a slight decline. As of March, about half of U.S. adults approved of his handling of immigration, whereas the latest figures indicate 43% approval. This is a marked increase from his first term, indicating immigration has become a more notable strength for him now than during previous years.
Other pressing issues for Trump, particularly the economy, showcase a different narrative. Currently, only 37% of Americans approve of his handling of the economy, a decline from 43% in August, with even lower approval rates among independents, where just 20% express satisfaction. This stark contrast highlights economic concerns that were once a springboard for Trump's initial ascent.
Trump’s administration is similarly seen as weaker on trade negotiations and healthcare, with only about 70% of Republicans approving his actions regarding these areas. Polling data indicates a steady stream of dissatisfaction across demographics, with many Americans expressing their belief that Trump has “gone too far” on issues such as tariffs.
Moreover, concerning his stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Trump’s approval has slightly dipped, indicating an overall trend of declining satisfaction with his handling of foreign policy as well.
The AP-NORC survey was conducted between September 11-15, surveying a representative sample of U.S. adults, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points. With the 2024 election looming, these shifting approval ratings could significantly impact Trump's strategy moving forward.
Once strengthened by economic issues, Trump’s approval is now relatively low on the economy — and he’s leaning on his stronger issues of crime, border security, and immigration. Concerns about the economy and immigration helped propel him to the White House, but polling over the past year shows that Americans’ faith in the Republican president’s handling of the economy is low — particularly among independents — and his approval on immigration has fallen slightly.
Now, Trump’s strongest issues are border security and crime, but there were signs of potential weakness on crime in the most recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
At the same time, Trump’s overall approval has been fairly steady in AP-NORC polling since the beginning of his second term. This month, 39% of U.S. adults approve of how Trump is handling his job as president, returning to his average approval rating after a brief uptick in August.
In regard to his major strengths, Trump has made border security a significant theme of his second term, receiving higher approval ratings compared to previous years. Most Americans now approve of his approach to border security, a turnaround from only about 40% approval in 2019 when he was focused on funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
His approval regarding immigration also remains relatively high, even with a slight decline. As of March, about half of U.S. adults approved of his handling of immigration, whereas the latest figures indicate 43% approval. This is a marked increase from his first term, indicating immigration has become a more notable strength for him now than during previous years.
Other pressing issues for Trump, particularly the economy, showcase a different narrative. Currently, only 37% of Americans approve of his handling of the economy, a decline from 43% in August, with even lower approval rates among independents, where just 20% express satisfaction. This stark contrast highlights economic concerns that were once a springboard for Trump's initial ascent.
Trump’s administration is similarly seen as weaker on trade negotiations and healthcare, with only about 70% of Republicans approving his actions regarding these areas. Polling data indicates a steady stream of dissatisfaction across demographics, with many Americans expressing their belief that Trump has “gone too far” on issues such as tariffs.
Moreover, concerning his stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Trump’s approval has slightly dipped, indicating an overall trend of declining satisfaction with his handling of foreign policy as well.
The AP-NORC survey was conducted between September 11-15, surveying a representative sample of U.S. adults, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points. With the 2024 election looming, these shifting approval ratings could significantly impact Trump's strategy moving forward.
