Politics
JUST IN: Top Pollster Shows Trump With Jaw-Dropping Approval Rating On Key Issues
The atmosphere in Washington has shifted dramatically since Donald Trump’s historic return to the Oval Office earlier this month. His second, non-consecutive term as president—a rare political feat in U.S. history—was inaugurated amid freezing temperatures, with the ceremony held indoors at the Capitol rotunda.
Trump, now 78, once again took the oath of office alongside Vice President JD Vance, signaling the start of a term many predict will reshape his legacy and set the tone for the Republican Party’s future. New approval data from Morning Consult reveal a strong start for Trump.
In a poll conducted from January 24 to January 26, 52% of registered voters approved of Trump’s job performance, an eight-point net gain compared to the end of his first term in 2021. 44% of respondents disapprove of his performance as president, with 78% of Democrats and 51% of independents expressing dissatisfaction. At a comparable stage during his first term, 49% of voters approved of his job performance, while 41% disapproved.
Notably, Trump’s ratings on issue-specific policies stand out:
- National Security: 55% approve, 34% disapprove (+21)
- Immigration: 56% approve, 36% disapprove (+20)
- The Economy: 53% approve, 36% disapprove (+17)
- Foreign Policy: 52% approve, 36% disapprove (+16)
- Energy Policy: 51% approve, 36% disapprove (+15)
The approval numbers mark Trump’s strongest start in public opinion since March 2017, during the first months of his initial presidency. Perhaps the most striking data concerns Trump’s handling of the economy, where he enjoys a 17-point advantage.
Inflation, wages, and the cost of living dominated the 2024 campaign, and the Morning Consult survey reflects a public eager for economic relief. Nearly four in five voters said reducing the cost of goods and services should be the administration’s top priority. This economic focus aligns with Trump’s first executive orders, which included directives to increase domestic energy production, rollback regulations on small businesses, and expand tax credits for middle-income families.
Trump’s approval ratings on immigration (+20) and national security (+21) show his continued success in making these issues central to his presidency.
With a Republican-controlled Congress, Trump is well-positioned to implement his agenda.
Cost reduction is a key priority for voters, with nearly 80% stating that the Trump administration should focus on lowering the prices of goods and services. In contrast, only 23% and 16% believe that imposing tariffs on imports and expanding U.S. territory should be top priorities.
Additionally, a slight majority considers stopping illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border a crucial focus, though fewer support mass deportations (42%) or altering the legal immigration system (39%). Trump’s approval ratings on immigration and trade exceed his overall ratings by 20 and 13 percentage points.
While voters generally back measures to secure the border, the data also reveals a more nuanced public view. Only 42% favor mass deportations, and 39% support changes to the legal immigration system.
In his first week back in office, President Trump swiftly enacted a flurry of executive orders and policy changes. Key actions included declaring a national emergency at the southern border, launching mass deportation efforts, and signing an order to end birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants’ descendants.
Trump also withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement and pardoned over 1,500 individuals linked to the January 6 Capitol breach. Domestically, he targeted DEI programs, prompting Republican attorneys general to pressure businesses to follow suit.