President Donald Trump’s approval rating has slightly declined in the latest polls following some controversial decisions and events.
Trump continues to move toward acquiring Greenland. Initially, Trump threatened a 10% tariff on all U.S. imports to the eight European Nations that are in opposition to his acquisition of Greenland, but has now backed off on his threats as he has come to a “framework of a future deal” after meeting with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte.
Tension with ICE in Minnesota continue as a 5-year-old boy, Liam Ramos, was detained by ICE officers earlier this week. Vice President JD Vance defended the detainment of the boy, saying agents were looking to detain his father but took the child as well. Ramos is now one of four minors taken by ICE agents in the Minneapolis suburb of Columbia Heights.
Trump revealed his “Board of Peace” at Davos on Thursday. The board, headed by Trump, would act as an international organization promoting peace in conflict-ridden areas of the world. However, many U.S. allies are hesitant to join Trump’s board as he claims it might replace the United Nations. Trump has now rescinded his invitation to Canada, excluding the country and calling Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney ungrateful. As of now, the board has 20 members from the Middle East, Asia and South America.
Trump has sent U.S. ships to Iran amid protests that have now reached a death toll of over 5 thousand, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency. Trump initially threatened to send U.S. military on Jan. 14, but called it off, saying death tolls have gone down. Yet, tensions seem to continue as the death toll rises, and U.S. ships have been deployed heading toward the Middle East as of Jan. 22, according to Trump.
Here’s what to know about Trump’s approval rating, including how they are decided and how Trump’s ratings compare with his first term and past presidents.
What is Donald Trump’s approval rating?
Here are the latest approval ratings released about Trump’s administration:
- Real Clear Polling’s average of polls from Jan. 8 to Jan. 22 shows a 42.6% approval and 54.7% disapproval rate.
- According to the most recent Gallup poll, Trump’s job approval rating was at 36%.
- A Reuters/Ipsos poll from Jan. 12 to Jan. 13 reported that 36% of those surveyed gave him a favorable approval rating of his performance in office and 55% gave an unfavorable rating.
- The New York Times daily average of polls showed a 41% approval and 55% disapproval as of Jan. 23.
- A poll from the Associated Press and NORC showed 40% approve and 59% disapprove of Trump.
- The Economist shows that 37% of people are favorable of Trump and 56% are unfavorable of him, according to the latest update from Jan. 23.
- Rasmussen Reports poll from Jan. 19 showed 47% approval and 52% disapproval of Trump.
- A Morning Consult poll updated Jan. 19 showed 46% of voters approve of Trump’s performance, while 52% disapprove.
- The American Research Group poll from Jan. 21 showed 35% approve and 63% disapprove.
How does Trump’s approval rating compare with his 1st term?
Trump had a final approval rating of 34% when he left office in 2021. His approval average during his first term was 41%.
How does Trump’s approval rating compare with past presidents?
Are presidential approval ratings accurate?
Data agency Gallup notes that these approval ratings are a “simple measure, yet a very powerful one that has played a key role in politics for over 70 years.”
A president’s approval rating reflects the percentage of Americans polled who approve of the president’s performance. Anything can impact a president’s rating, such as legislation passed, actions and elections.
According to ABC News, an approval rating doesn’t just represent how well the administration is doing for the general public, but could determine the outcome of an upcoming election for a politician or how much they get done during their time in office.
While these ratings are easy to understand, Quorum says some analysts believe they are not as useful as they once were due to extreme partisanship and the polarized political climate.
“Presidential approval ratings have always been partisan, with members of the president’s party offering more positive assessments than those in the opposing party,” according to the Pew Research Center. “But the differences between Republicans and Democrats on views of the president have grown substantially in recent decades.”
