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By Martha McHardy
US News Reporter
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President Donald Trump is experiencing a rebound in public opinion, new polling showing a surge in his national approval ratings.
Why It Matters
In recent weeks, Trump's approval ratings declined following his Liberation Day tariffs, when markets temporarily crashed before bouncing back days later.
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But a recovery in the polls suggests the president may be stabilizing his base and regaining control of the political narrative.
If the trend continues, it could bolster Republican momentum, complicate Democratic strategy and reignite fears among Trump critics about the durability of his influence.
What To Know
The latest Insider Advantage poll, conducted between May 17-19 among 1,000 likely voters, gives Trump a net approval rating of +11 points, 55 percent approving and 44 percent disapproving, with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.
That is up from a net approval rating of +2 points in early May, when 46 percent approved and 44 percent disapproved.
The latest Morning Consult poll also shows a surge in Trump's approval rating, 48 percent approving and 50 percent disapproving, giving the president a net approval rating of -2 points, up from -7 in early May when 45 percent approved and 52 percent disapproved. That is his highest approval rating since mid-March. The latest poll had a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points.
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The latest J.L. Partners/Daily Mail poll, between May 13 and 14 among 1,003 registered voters, puts Trump's approval rating at 50 percent, up 5 points from 45 percent in April, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points.
And the latest Reuters/Ipsos survey, conducted on May 12 and 13, has 44 percent approving of his job performance, a 2-point increase from the previous poll conducted April 25 to 27.
Newsweek's tracker also shows that Trump's approval rating is ticking back up, currently standing at 48 percent, while 50 percent disapprove. Earlier this month, Trump's approval rating stood at 44 percent, while his disapproval was firmly in the 50s.
Some recent polls are also offering encouraging signs for Trump on the economy, a key issue heading into the 2024 election. A new Reuters/Ipsos survey shows his economic approval rating has climbed to 39 percent, up from 36 percent in the previous poll.
Economic anxiety, while still widespread, appears to be easing. The share of Americans worried about a recession dropped to 69 percent, down from 76 percent, while concerns over stock market instability fell from 67 percent to 60 percent.
Despite these trends, most respondents still said they would hold Trump accountable if the economy worsens. According to the survey, 59 percent would blame Trump if a recession hits this year, compared to 37 percent who would fault his predecessor, President Joe Biden. This comes as Trump continues to argue that inflation and other economic woes took root under Biden's leadership.
Meanwhile, a separate Napolitan News poll conducted May 12—13 among 1,000 registered voters suggests that public sentiment on personal finances is improving. Thirty-one percent of respondents said their finances are getting better—the highest share in four years and a sharp increase from 25 percent just two weeks earlier. An equal share (31 percent) said their financial situation is worsening, down from 36 percent.
This is the first time since July 2021 that optimism about personal finances has matched or exceeded pessimism.
The shift comes amid signs of easing inflation, with the Labor Department reporting slower annual price increases in April. In a further boost to market sentiment, the U.S. and China this week agreed to a 90-day reciprocal tariff reduction totaling 115 percentage points, immediately lifting investor confidence.
Yet the broader trend remains one of stagnation more than resurgence. Trump's approval ratings have not improved dramatically since mid-April, but neither have they deteriorated further.
In the latest YouGov/The Economist poll, conducted May 9 to 12 among 1,850 adults, Trump's overall approval rating increased by 1 point to 43 percent, while his disapproval rating remained at 52 percent.
Some polls still show that voters don't trust Trump on the economy following the fallout from his Liberation Day tariffs.
In the latest Echelon Insights poll, conducted between May 8-12 among 1,000 likely voters, Trump's net approval rating on the economy slid, with disapproval rising 2 points since April from 52 to 54 percent, while his approval rating remained the same at 44 percent.
The Echelon Insights poll also suggested fewer people now think the economic situation in the U.S. is getting worse, only 50 percent saying so, down from 52 percent. And 36 percent now think the economic situation is improving, up from 30 percent, suggesting that fears about a possible recession may be dying down slightly.
How Donald Trump's Approval Rating Compares to His First Term
The RealClearPolitics tracker shows that on May 20, 2017, Trump's approval rating was 40 percent, while his disapproval rating was 55 percent. This gave him a net approval rating of -15 points, making Trump more popular now than at the same point in his first stint in the Oval Office.
How Donald Trump's Approval Rating Compares to Joe Biden's
Trump's 48 percent approval rating is lower than that of former President Joe Biden at the same point in his presidency. On May 20, 2021, Biden stood at 53 percent, with a disapproval rating of 43 percent, according to RealClearPolitics.
While Trump began his second term with his highest approval ratings to date, according to Gallup's first poll of Trump's second term, conducted between January 21 and 27, he was still less popular than any president since 1953 at the start of a term and the only one to begin with a sub-50 percent approval rating. Gallup said Biden started his first term with a 57 percent approval rating.
And, according to data compiled from Gallup by The American Presidency Project, Trump ranks far below other recently elected presidents after 100 days, dating back to Eisenhower, who had an approval rating of 73 percent.
Other recently elected presidents had higher approval ratings at the 100-day mark, including John F. Kennedy, 83 percent; Richard Nixon, 62 percent; Jimmy Carter, 63 percent; Ronald Reagan, 68 percent; George H.W. Bush, 56 percent; Bill Clinton, 55 percent; George W. Bush, 62 percent; and Barack Obama, 65 percent.
What People Are Saying
James Johnson, Co-Founder of J.L. Partners, told the Daily Mail: "The most important thing this shows is that Trump can bounce back when some of his voters waver. People who were concerned about the sense of direction and strength after tariffs reversals are now back on board as they see the President doing what they feel he does best: making deals."
InsiderAdvantage Pollster Matt Towery: "These results are not a surprise. Other pollsters who accurately polled election cycles where President Trump's name appeared on the ballot have been showing his approval ratings moving into the fifty-percent plus range. Our last survey (conducted jointly with Trafalgar) was one of the first to show that Trump enjoyed a positive rating. But it also showed an unusually high percent of undecided respondents. As I noted at that time, a large undecided number means that opinion is shifting but has not consolidated. Since then those undecideds have moved heavily towards approval of President Trump's job performance. Trump enjoys a positive rating from all age groups other than seniors. His support among other demographics are similar or above the level of supports seen in our final battleground poll of battleground states in 2024."
What Happens Next
Trump's approval rating could fluctuate in the coming weeks, depending on the outcome of key events, including critical negotiations in the Russia-Ukraine war, the evolving tariff situation and concerns about a recession.
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