Trump Approval Rating on Economy Hits New Low

"According to the Silver Bulletin's polling averages, his net approval rating was at minus-8 percent on July 25 and is at minus-8.4 percent on September 22. Trump's second-term job-approval averages started at plus-11.7 percent on January 21, went underwater in March, bottomed out in mid-July at minus-10.3 percent, then increased a bit and stayed put. That means Trump is less popular than any post-World War II president at this stage in their presidency, other than himself during his first term."

"his net job-approval ratings on the economy have now sunk to a second-term low of minus-15.5 percent. Similarly, assessment of his handling of inflation - arguably the issue that got him elected last year - has steadily deteriorated throughout 2025 and now stands at a terrible minus-30.4 percent. Approval of his job performance on trade dropped to minus-20.2 in April, soon after his imposition of major tariffs on the so-called Liberation Day, and is at minus-18.9 percent now following much erratic conduct on tariffs."

"It's not so surprising, then, that the 47th president has shifted his emphasis from economic policy to law-and-order issues. His job-approval averages at Silver Bulletin on immigration went underwater in June and now stand at minus-3.4 percent - not great but much better than his standing on most other issues. Pollsters that break out "border control" separately from "immigration" typically find Trump doing much better in that subarea of immigration policy."

Donald Trump's overall job-approval averages have been essentially stable in recent months, around minus-8 percent. His second-term approval started at plus-11.7 percent, fell underwater in March, bottomed at minus-10.3 percent in mid-July, then recovered slightly and plateaued. Issue-specific ratings show notable declines: economy approval sank to a second-term low of minus-15.5 percent; handling of inflation deteriorated to minus-30.4 percent; trade approval fell to roughly minus-19 percent after major tariffs. Immigration approval went underwater in June but stands relatively stronger at minus-3.4 percent. He shifted emphasis from economic policy to law-and-order and federalized law enforcement in the District of Columbia.

Read at Intelligencer