Trump approval sinks to second-term low as disapproval hits record high
Trump’s approval fell to 34%, Pew’s lowest reading of his second term, as voters also cooled on his promises, sharpness and honesty.
Donald Trump’s standing has slipped well beyond a bad poll number. Pew Research Center found his job approval at 34%, the lowest mark of his second term, down from 37% in January, as judgments about his character and competence also weakened.
The April 20-26 survey of 5,103 U.S. adults showed 38% saying Trump keeps his promises, down from 43% in August 2025 and 51% just after his reelection in November 2024. Only 44% described him as mentally sharp, a decline from 48% last August. Another 64% said he stands up for what he believes in, down from 68% last summer. Even beyond Trump himself, 56% said the overall level of ethics and honesty in the federal government has fallen during his term.
That erosion matters because it reaches into the core of his governing credibility. In Pew’s January 2026 survey, 50% said the Trump administration’s actions had been worse than expected, compared with 21% who said better than expected. Just 27% said they supported all or most of Trump’s policies and plans. Those numbers suggest skepticism is no longer limited to a single fight or a single issue; it has spread into how Americans judge the whole project.
The political fallout is showing up around Congress as well. The Washington Post’s polling roundup said Democrats now hold a five-point advantage in support for Congress, up from two points in February. That shift does not just signal a rough news cycle for Trump. It suggests voters are extending their frustration beyond the White House and toward the broader governing bloc that has to carry his agenda.
Trump’s handling of Iran has only sharpened the problem. Pew said in a May 1 survey that 62% disapproved of his handling of the military action against Iran, while 59% said the United States made the wrong decision in using military force. For a president who leans heavily on strength and decisiveness, those numbers are a warning that public patience is thinning on the very questions where he most wants to project authority.
Taken together, the latest readings point to a presidency with less room to maneuver and less trust to spend. The damage is not confined to campaign optics. It is cutting into the public’s confidence in Trump’s promises, his judgment, and his ability to command a durable majority.
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