President Donald Trump's Approval Rating Declines Amid Immigration Policies and Feud with Elon Musk

Six months into his second term, President Donald Trump's job approval rating has fallen to 37%, the lowest of his second term and close to his all-time low of 34% at the end of his first term. This data was reported on July 7-21, 2025, from a Gallup poll conducted shortly after Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on July 4, 2025. The law includes tax cuts for individuals and corporations, increased spending on border security, defense, and energy production, and cuts to healthcare and nutrition programs like Medicaid and SNAP to offset the costs.

The approval rating among U.S. adults decreased by 10 percentage points since January 2025, including a sharp 17-point drop among independents to 29%, matching Trump's lowest rating with this group during both of his terms. Republican approval remains steady near 90%, while Democrats consistently rate Trump in the low single digits.

Trump's approval ratings on handling eight specific foreign and domestic issues are generally low: highest ratings are for Iran (42%) and foreign affairs (41%), followed by immigration (38%), the economy (37%), the Middle East situation between Israelis and Palestinians (36%), and foreign trade (36%). Approval for handling the situation in Ukraine is 33% and the federal budget is 29%, both showing notable declines since earlier in the year (14-point drop for the budget, 8-point drops for immigration and Ukraine).

Within party lines, Republicans strongly approve of Trump's handling of these issues, with foreign affairs receiving 93% approval and other issues ranging from 81% to 88%, except Ukraine at 70%. Democrats' approval ratings on all issues remain very low, with a maximum of 12% (Ukraine) and single-digit support on the others. Independents do not give more than 36% approval on any issue.

Overall, 61% of adults disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy, up from 54% in February 2025. Among independents, 68% disapprove of his economic management. On immigration, only 30% of independents approve of Trump, while 60% of all adults disapprove, an increase from 51% in February 2025.

This Gallup poll was conducted by telephone between July 7-21, 2025, with a random sample of 1,002 adults and a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. The decline in support among independents is seen as a potential warning sign for Republican control of the House and Senate ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

On a recent Wednesday, President Donald Trump's erratic and wild behavior highlighted why he faces widespread public disapproval and why many believe he is ignoring key voter issues. Despite these criticisms, his most loyal supporters remain steadfast. This day included a reckless approach where Trump addressed voter concerns only sparingly. A new CNN poll reveals that Trump's presidency is marked by high risk-taking with the economy, a fixation on controversial matters like the Epstein case, and catering to a minority rather than the majority of Americans, which collectively limit his poll numbers.

The poll shows Trump is underwater on many pressing voter concerns, a situation that usually spells trouble for second-term presidents. However, Trump's approval ratings remain consistent with his entire presidential tenure. A recent event intensifying speculation was a Tuesday meeting where Trump polled lawmakers about the possibility of firing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Such a dismissal would be unprecedented in modern U.S. history as it would represent a direct interference with the Federal Reserve's role in setting interest rates and could destabilize the global economy. It would also risk undermining the markets' confidence and the longstanding assumption that U.S. presidents refrain from authoritarian tactics such as manipulating financial institutions, something more typical of developing world dictatorships.

This potential power grab underscores the risks of Trump's expansive second term and has raised alarm about the potential economic consequences for the United States and the world.

A CNN poll conducted in 2025 found that 55% of Americans believe President Donald Trump has gone too far in deporting immigrants living in the United States illegally, marking a 10-point increase since February. Opposition among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents has surged, with 90% now saying Trump's deportation policies have gone too far, compared to only 15% of Republican-aligned adults.

The poll also showed that 46% of respondents feel Trump's immigration policies have improved national safety, while 42% believe the federal government has been careful to follow the law in carrying out deportations; these figures have remained largely unchanged since April. Trump's approval ratings hover around 40% both for his management of immigration generally and deportations specifically.

Regarding immigrants without criminal records, 59% of Americans oppose arresting and detaining undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for years without criminal history. Among Republicans and Republican-leaners, roughly one-quarter oppose such arrests, while 47% support them, substantially less than the 83% who approve of deportations overall. A notable minority of Republicans, exemplified by a California respondent, believe Trump's deportation campaign has gone too far, advocating instead for focused research on immigrants perceived as serious threats.

The poll further revealed nuanced policy support: 16% of those against increasing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) budget also supported increased spending on border security, immigration law enforcement, and detention under Trump's recently passed spending bill. There is narrow support (43% to 35%) for prioritizing revocation of U.S. citizenship from naturalized citizens convicted of certain crimes—the only policy with a positive approval margin tested. Conversely, 71% of Americans would oppose Trump deporting high-profile critics of his administration's policies, even if they were legal U.S. residents without criminal convictions.

The findings illustrate heightened concern and division over immigration enforcement and highlight immigration as a growing critical issue for Democrats in the current political landscape.

A recent poll indicates that former President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have significantly dropped, with voters expressing a strong sentiment that the United States is moving in the wrong direction. According to the survey results, Trump is viewed unfavorably on seven critical issues, emphasizing his challenges in regaining favor among voters. This shift comes in the wake of recent military actions, specifically the U.S. strikes on Iran, which have further polarized public opinion. The poll reveals that only 32% of respondents approve of Trump’s handling of these foreign policy crises, with 56% disapproving. The poll reflects growing unease about the overall trajectory of the country, with 68% of voters indicating that they believe the U.S. is on the wrong track. Key demographics, including independent voters, are particularly dissatisfied, with a majority expressing discontent with Trump's leadership and policy decisions. This decline in approval ratings underscores the challenges facing Trump as he navigates a complex political landscape ahead of potential future campaigns. Analysts suggest that addressing these key issues is critical for any hopes of a restoration of his political capital in upcoming elections.

As of June 2025, President Donald Trump's approval ratings have shown a slight decline, influenced by recent controversies surrounding his immigration policies, tariff threats, and a public feud with Elon Musk. According to the Economist/YouGov Poll conducted from May 30 to June 2, 2025, Trump's net job approval rating stands at 4%, which is 10 percentage points higher than at the same point in his first term (14%). However, this remains significantly lower than Joe Biden's net approval of 10% during the same period in his presidency. The poll surveyed 1,610 U.S. adult citizens, weighted for demographic accuracy, including gender, age, race, education, and voter registration status.

In Pennsylvania, Trump's approval ratings have also dipped. A Civiqs poll updated on June 2, 2025, revealed that 53% of Pennsylvanians disapprove of Trump's performance, up from 50% in January, while only 43% approve, down from 46%. The disapproval is highest among younger voters (60% among those aged 18-34) and postgraduate students (68%), while older voters (55% among those aged 50-64) and non-college graduates (49%) are more favorable. Party lines show stark divisions, with 87% of Republicans approving and only 3% of Democrats.

Trump's recent actions, including a controversial travel ban targeting 12 countries and resumed ICE arrests at immigration courts, have drawn backlash. Additionally, his feud with Elon Musk, who criticized Trump's spending bill as a 'disgusting abomination,' has fueled public debate. Despite these challenges, Trump's approval ratings have remained relatively stable early in his second term, averaging 41% during his first term and peaking at 34% upon leaving office in 2021.

On immigration, a CBS News/YouGov poll conducted June 4-6, 2025, found that 54% of Americans approve of Trump's deportation program, with 93% Republican support and 82% Democratic opposition. However, 56% disapprove of his approach, and 53% believe the administration prioritizes removing dangerous criminals. The poll also highlighted public support for legal safeguards, with 63% favoring court hearings for noncitizens facing deportation.