Trump's Approval Rating: A Year in Review

President Trump's Address and Public Perception

President Donald Trump is set to deliver a live address on December 17, where he will highlight his achievements during his first year in office. The speech, announced via Truth Social, comes with an enthusiastic message from the president: "It has been a great year for our Country, and THE BEST IS YET TO COME!"

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the address will focus on Trump's accomplishments since taking office at the start of the year. She explained that the speech will cover his efforts to restore the nation to greatness and outline plans for continued progress over the next three years.

Approval Ratings: A Mixed Picture

Despite the positive tone of the address, public opinion remains divided. According to data from RealClearPolitics and the New York Times, Trump’s approval rating is currently net negative. However, there are signs of stabilization after a sharp decline earlier in the year.

As of January 27, 50.5% of Americans approved of Trump, giving him a net positive rating. This changed on March 13, when approval dropped to 47.8%, with disapproval rising to 48.5%. The lowest point came on April 29, with 45.1% approval, just before Trump’s 100-day mark. By November 14, the approval rate had fallen further to 42.3%, coinciding with increased controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's emails following the government shutdown. Disapproval reached a term high of 55.6% on November 21.

As of December 17, RealClearPolitics reported 43.6% approval and 53.3% disapproval. The New York Times aggregator showed a similar trend, with approval dropping from 52% in January to 44% in April, then stabilizing. The Times noted that Trump’s term low was 41% approval, reached on November 12, with disapproval hitting 56% on November 19. As of December 17, 43% approve and 54% disapprove, according to the aggregator.

Historical Comparison and Gallup Polls

A Gallup poll conducted from November 3 to 25 found that 36% of Americans approved of Trump’s job performance. Historically, this places Trump’s November approval ratings in his first year as lower than any other modern president at the same stage in their administrations. Here’s how his November approval compares:

• Joe Biden (November 2021) – 42% approve
• Trump (November 2017) – 37% approve
• Barack Obama (November 2009) – 51% approve
• George W. Bush (November 2001) – 87% approve
• Bill Clinton (November 1993) – 49% approve
• George H.W. Bush (November 1989) – 70% approve
• Ronald Reagan (November 1981) – 52% approve

NBC News Poll: Declining Enthusiasm

The latest NBC News Decision Desk poll shows a drop in enthusiasm for Trump among Republicans and MAGA supporters. The poll, released on December 14, placed Trump’s approval rating at 42% and disapproval at 58%, marking a 3-point decline since April. The 18-day survey, which included 20,252 adults online, has a margin of error of ±1.9 percentage points.

Among MAGA supporters, approval of Trump’s job performance has also declined. While 7 out of 10 MAGA supporters still strongly approve of the president, fewer Republicans now identify as part of the movement compared to earlier in the year. Among those who remain in the MAGA group, approval stands at 70%, down from 78% in April. For Republicans overall, support has also decreased, with 35% strongly approving of Trump, down from 38% in April.

Reuters/Ipsos: Economic Concerns

In a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted between December 12 and 14, 39% of respondents approved of Trump’s job performance. This is slightly higher than his term low but still reflects a challenging environment. The poll surveyed 1,016 people nationwide with a margin of error of three percentage points.

However, approval of Trump’s handling of the economy is at its lowest point. Only 33% of respondents approved of how he is managing the economy, while approval of his handling of the cost of living dropped to 27% from 31% earlier in the month.