A new poll shows President Trump’s approval rating at its second-term low, with 68% of Americans saying things are going badly.
President Trump’s approval rating has plummeted to 37%, marking one of the lowest points of his second term, according to a CNN/SSRS survey released Monday. The decline represents a sharp drop from the 47% approval he held in mid-February, just weeks after his January inauguration. The survey of 1,245 adults conducted from October 27 to 30 reveals a troubling picture for the administration: 68% of Americans say things are going badly in the country, while only 32% believe conditions are improving.
The economic outlook appears to be driving much of the discontent. Nearly half of all Americans, 47%, cite the economy and cost of living as the most pressing issue facing the nation. When asked specifically about Trump’s economic policies, only 27% believe they have improved conditions, while 61% think they have made things worse.
This skepticism comes as rural Republican communities report factory layoffs and production slowdowns linked to the administration’s tariff policies. Beyond economics, 26% of Americans rank the state of democracy as a top concern, while immigration, despite being a central focus of the administration, registers as a priority for only 10% of respondents.
Observers across the community have reacted with a mix of frustration and disbelief at the persistent support the president maintains. Commenters have expressed bewilderment that 37% of the population continues to approve of his performance, with some questioning the psychological resilience of his base. If the opinion numbers are accurate, they could also explain the shift in early polls toward democrats during this election.
The discussion reflects broader tensions about how Americans interpret the same political reality in starkly different ways. Many in the community point to what they describe as effective messaging and loyalty among Trump supporters, while others suggest a sunk cost fallacy keeps his base committed despite mounting concerns.
The SSRS Opinion Panel survey also reveals significant anxiety about presidential power. A substantial majority, 61%, believe Trump has overreached in his use of executive authority, citing actions including international strikes without congressional approval and the deployment of national guard troops against state opposition. Meanwhile, 56% of Americans believe his foreign policy decisions have damaged the nation’s global standing, contradicting White House claims that he has ended eight wars in eight months. Looking ahead to next year’s midterm elections, 41% of voters say their congressional vote would primarily express opposition to Trump, while only 21% say their vote would signal support for him.
The timing of this poll is significant, arriving as the federal government faces what could become the longest shutdown in American history. The convergence of economic anxiety, concerns about democratic norms, and questions about presidential overreach suggests that Trump’s political foundation, while still substantial, has shifted considerably since his return to office. Whether this downward trajectory continues may depend on whether economic conditions improve and whether the administration can address the democracy concerns that have emerged as a major factor in public sentiment. We found more coverage of this story at The Guardian.