- 55% of Americans say the U.S. is moving in the wrong direction under Trump.
- That figure is 13 points higher than at the same stage of his first presidency.
- Only 32% believe the federal system of checks and balances is “working well.”
- Just 27% support all or most of Trump’s second-term policies, per Pew.
- Republican confidence in Trump’s mental fitness and ethics has declined.
A majority of Americans believe the United States is heading in the wrong direction under President Donald Trump’s second term, according to a new Trump approval poll released just ahead of his State of the Union address.
The survey, conducted by NPR, PBS News, and Marist Poll between January 27 and 30, found that 55% of U.S. adults think Trump is changing the country for the worse. That figure marks a 13-point increase compared with roughly the same stage of his first presidency and reflects a four-point rise since April.
The findings underscore deep political divisions, with partisan identity strongly shaping public opinion. While nine in 10 Democrats say the country is worse off than a year ago, 82% of Republicans report that conditions have improved.
Beyond overall direction, confidence in core democratic institutions appears to be weakening. In March 2025, 43% of Americans agreed that “the system of checks and balances dividing power between the president, Congress and the courts is working well”. In the latest poll, that number dropped to 32%, signaling growing skepticism about how federal government institutions are functioning.
Separate research from the Pew Research Center echoes that trend. A January survey found that only 27% of U.S. adults supported all or most of Trump’s policies and plans during his second term — a low approval benchmark in modern presidential polling.
Even within Republican ranks, some indicators show softening support. In February 2025, 75% of Republicans or Republican-leaning voters said they believed Trump had the mental fitness required for the presidency. By January, that number had declined to 66%. Perceptions of ethical conduct also shifted, with the share of Republicans who believe Trump acts ethically in office falling from 55% to 42% over the same period.
The polling data arrives at a politically sensitive moment, as Trump outlines his legislative agenda and economic priorities before Congress. For investors, policymakers, and political analysts tracking election trends and voter sentiment, the numbers suggest that public confidence — both in leadership and in democratic institutions — remains sharply divided.
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