Trump’s Approval Ratings Plunge Amid Record Executive Orders and Few New Laws
TL/DR –
President Donald Trump’s net approval rating fell to -13 percentage points according to a new poll by The Economist/YouGov, a decline from the -10 net approval rating of the prior week. Trump’s second term has been marked by trade wars with China and Canada, mass layoffs in the federal government, and a deportation program that led to a court battle. His approval ratings on his handling of the economy and immigration have also dropped significantly since the start of his term.
Trump’s Approval Rating Plummets, Reveals Economist/YouGov Poll
In a recent poll by The Economist/YouGov, President Donald Trump‘s net approval rating fell to -13 percentage points. Surveying from April 19-22, 41% approved of Trump’s job performance, with 54% disapproving. This represents a drop from the previous week’s -10 net approval rating.
Historical data from Gallup shows that Trump’s approval ratings for April 2017 (first term) and April 2025 (second term) are among the lowest for any newly-elected president since 1953. In comparison, President Joe Biden‘s approval ratings at this point in his presidency were positive by 11 percentage points, according to YouGov.
A RealClearPolitics poll average corroborates this decline, showing Trump’s aggregate approval rating turned net negative around March 13. By April 22, the average approval rating dropped to -4.1 percentage points.
Second Term Approval Lower on Immigration and Economy
Trumps’s second term witnessed federal government layoffs, widespread tariffs, an escalating trade war with China, and a contentious deportation program. Resultantly, the economy and immigration, both central campaign issues, have seen Trump’s approval ratings plummet.
The latest Economist/YouGov poll shows a -12 percentage point net approval on Trump’s handling of the economy, a significant drop from the +12 at the beginning of his term. His approval on immigration has similarly suffered, falling to a net negative approval of -5 percentage points, a stark contrast to the net positive approval of 11 percentage points at the beginning of his term.
The Economist/YouGov poll, with a margin of error of ±3.3 percentage points, included 1,446 registered voters, providing a representative snapshot of public opinion.
Kinsey Crowley is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social.
—
Read More US Political News