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By Martha McHardy
US News Reporter
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President Donald Trump's approval rating has hit a new low, according to a recent poll conducted by a Republican-leaning firm.
Why It Matters
Trump's approval rating is a key indicator of his political strength as he navigates his second presidential term and prepares for future policy battles.
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A shift in his numbers could influence support from Republican lawmakers, affect his ability to push through his agenda and shape the political landscape heading into the midterm election cycle in 2026.
What To Know
According to the most recent survey conducted by Napolitan News and RMG Research between April 2 and 10, Trump's approval rating sits at 49 percent, while 48 percent disapprove, giving him a net approval rating of +1.
This is the lowest rating Trump has received from a Napolitan News and RMG Research poll since his second term began in January.
The poll surveyed 3,000 registered voters and had a margin of error of plus or minus 1.8 percentage points.
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A poll conducted by Napolitan News and RMG Research in March put Trump's net approval rating at +4 points, with 51 percent approving and 47 percent disapproving. In early March, his net approval rating stood at +10 points.
More bad news came for the president in the latest YouGov poll, conducted between April 7 and 10 among 1,151 U.S. adult citizens. The poll showed that Trump's net approval rating stood at -13 points, with 41 percent approving and 54 percent disapproving. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. In polls conducted by YouGov in February, Trump's approval rating peaked at +4 points.
Multiple recent polls have shown a drop in Trump's approval rating.
The latest YouGov/Economist poll, conducted between April 5 and 8 among 1,741 respondents, showed Trump's net approval rating had dropped by 5 points—from -3 earlier in the month to -8, with 43 percent approving and 51 percent disapproving. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
According to the latest HarrisX poll, conducted between April 4 and 7 among 1,883 registered voters, Trump's net approval rating dropped to -2, with 47 percent approving and 49 percent disapproving. This is down from a net approval rating of +9 points in February, when 52 percent approved and 43 percent disapproved.
Newsweek's tracker also shows Trump's approval rating at one of its lowest levels yet, with 45 percent approving and 50 percent disapproving, giving him a net approval of -5 points. On April 1, Trump's net approval rating was -2 points, with 47 approving and 49 percent disapproving.
Meanwhile, Quinnipiac's latest poll, conducted between April 3 and 7 among 1,407 registered voters, showed a 1-point drop in the president's approval rating, with his net approval at -12 points compared to -11 points last time.
Trump has struggled recently in polls on the economy, once a strong topic for the president.
Earlier this month, he announced his new "Liberation Day" tariffs, which included a sweeping 10 percent baseline tariff on all imports and harsher duties targeted at what the White House called the "worst offenders" of unfair trade practices.
The April 2 announcement immediately shook financial markets before Trump announced a surprise 90-day pause on most reciprocal tariffs hours after they took effect.
The 10 percent baseline tariff remains in place, and Trump has now raised duties on Chinese imports to 125 percent after Beijing responded with an 84 percent surcharge on U.S. goods. China has now responded in kind with its own 125 percent tariffs.
Despite Trump's partial pause, the tariffs have driven fears of a potential recession, and the president's approval ratings have taken a hit.
"A large majority of voters acknowledge the tariffs are delivering a bruising body blow to the economy in the near term. Will time reduce the pain? Some think it will, but a majority don't envision that happening," Quinnipiac University polling analyst Tim Malloy said.
Thomas Gift, an associate professor of political science and the director of the Centre on U.S. Politics at University College London, said Trump's handling of the tariff situation had alienated many voters.
"Trump hasn't earned himself many supporters with his handling of the tariff situation. It's not only the policy that seems to irk voters but also the apparent lack of strategy, the impulsive decision-making, and the inconsistent messaging from the White House. Trump has long built his brand on being a master dealmaker and a savvy businessman. However, the last several days have dealt a serious huge blow to that image," he said.
The RMG Research/Napolitan News poll found that 39 percent of respondents identified the economy as the most important issue, ranking it as the top concern among voters.
The YouGov poll showed that imposing tariffs on foreign imports was a low priority for voters when it came to the campaign promises they most wanted to see Trump keep. Only 5 percent of respondents selected tariffs as one of their top three priorities, placing the issue near the bottom of the list.
The results suggest that while trade policy was a major focus during Trump's first term, it resonated less with voters compared to issues such as protecting Social Security and Medicare (45 percent), ending inflation (43 percent) and securing the U.S.-Mexico border (26 percent).
How Trump's Approval Rating Compares to Joe Biden's
Trump's 45 percent approval rating is lower than former President Joe Biden's popularity at the same point in his presidency. On April 12, 2021, Biden stood at 55 percent, with a disapproval rating of 40 percent, according to RealClearPolitics.
Polls released in the days after Trump's inauguration showed his popularity at an all-time high. However, he was still the least-popular president in recent times.
According to Gallup's first poll of Trump's second term, conducted between January 21 and 27, his initial approval rating was 47 percent. The pollster said the figure made him 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 began his first term with a 57 percent approval rating.
How Trump's Approval Rating Compares to First Term
The RealClearPolitics tracker showed that on April 12, 2017, Trump's approval rating was 42 percent, while his disapproval rating was 52 percent, giving him a net approval rating of -10 points—making Trump more popular now than at the same point in his first stint in the Oval Office.
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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