Poll: Perceptions of President Trump

This Navigator Research report covers the latest perceptions of President Trump, including what news Americans are hearing about him and how his policies are seen as contributing to current issues facing the country.

Perceptions of President Trump

By 10-points, Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the presidency (44 percent approve – 54 percent disapprove), and disapprove of his handling of the economy by 14-points (42 percent approve – 56 percent disapprove).

Independents overwhelmingly disapprove of Trump’s handling of the presidency (33 percent approve – 58 percent disapprove) and disapprove even more of his handling of the economy (31 percent approve – 61 percent disapprove).

Though 81 percent of Republicans approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, only 60 percent of those identifying as non-MAGA Republicans approve.

Notably, approval of President Trump’s handling of the economy is also split across gender. Trump’s economic approval is 23-points underwater among women and only 4-points underwater among men. Women also express deeper pessimism around the current state of the economy (77 percent negative among women – 62 percent negative among men) and their personal financial situations (60 percent negative among women – 46 percent negative among men).

The News is Negative for Trump

Three quarters of Americans are hearing at least some news about President Trump (76 percent), and 71 percent are hearing at least some negative news about President Trump. The most commonly cited negative news stories are his use of tariffs and his Qatari jet gift. Positive news Americans are hearing also includes his use of tariffs, as well as his trip to the Middle East.

Trump’s Policies

Among a list of concerns related to current issues facing the country, Americans express the most concern around homelessness (74 percent worried, including 40 percent “very” worried), unsafe food products (67 percent worried, 37 percent “very” worried), extreme weather events (67 percent worried, 34 percent “very” worried), and research into cures for diseases being cut (65 percent worried, 41 percent “very” worried).

When asked which issues President Trump’s policies were contributing to, government workers losing their jobs (74 percent contributing), fewer imports making it to American ports (66 percent contributing), PBS and NPR losing funding (57 percent contributing), and prices rising for things like baby products (55 percent contributing), were seen as the issues his policies were contributing to the most.