President Donald Trump's job approval rating has plunged to its lowest point since taking office in 2025, with just 37% of Americans approving of his performance and 63% disapproving, according to an NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey.
The collapse reflects deep voter anxiety about inflation and the ongoing conflict with Iran. Two-thirds of respondents expressed disapproval of how Trump has handled both the economy and the Iran war, signaling that his two signature 2024 campaign promises to control costs and avoid foreign entanglements have failed to persuade the public.
The erosion extends into Trump's own party. Republican approval dropped 4 percentage points since late January, with strong approval among GOP voters falling 6 points from 58% to 52%. Despite the slippage, 83% of Republicans still back Trump, though the downward trajectory suggests cracks forming in his base.
On inflation specifically, Trump faces a stark deficit. Just 32% of Americans approve of his handling of rising costs while 68% disapprove. Among Republicans, approval of his economic management sits at 73%, a 10-point decline from last summer. Half of all Americans now say their financial situation has worsened over the past year, the worst reading of his second term.
The economy dominates voter priorities, with 29% calling it the most pressing issue facing the country. Inflation and cost of living claimed 45% of those concerned about economic matters, dwarfing all other concerns. Gas prices particularly sting households, with two-thirds of Americans reporting it as a problem, including 29% who call it serious.
Blue-collar workers and those without college degrees register higher anxiety about fuel prices than white-collar and college-educated voters, suggesting the cost-of-living crisis hits differently across income and education lines.
The Iran situation offers Trump little relief. Two-thirds of Americans disapprove of his handling of the conflict, with only one-third approving. A ceasefire announcement on April 7 failed to shift public opinion meaningfully. Republicans split on the issue more sharply than on Trump's overall job performance, with 26% of GOP voters disapproving of his war management compared to just 17% disapproving of his presidency overall.
A commanding majority of the country wants the war to end without additional military action. Sixty-one percent of adults oppose further military engagement, while only 23% back continuing all options including ground forces. Among Americans under 30, opposition swells to 74%.
Trump's core MAGA supporters remain loyal, with 87% approving of his Iran policy despite broader disillusionment. But the gap between activist base approval and general voter sentiment underscores the challenge Republicans face defending their congressional majorities in midterm elections this year.
One bright spot emerged on immigration. Trump's approval on border security climbed 4 points to 44% since the start of the year, though 56% still disapprove. The shift follows his administration's firing of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other personnel changes after a controversial February incident in Minnesota. Strong disapproval on immigration fell from 49% to 42%, though more than 60,000 migrants remain in ICE custody, nearly double pre-Trump levels.
Voter sentiment on national direction has grown bleaker. Two-thirds now believe the country is heading the wrong way, marking the most pessimistic outlook since Trump returned to office last year. Only one-third believe America is on the right track.
A separate measure on voting rights showed one area of alignment between Trump and the public. Seventy-five percent of Americans support government-issued photo ID requirements at the ballot box, part of Trump's push for the SAVE America Act. The House passed the measure, but it lacks the votes to advance in the Senate. Most supporters of ID requirements also back proof-of-citizenship mandates.
The survey polled 32,433 adults online from March 30 to April 13 with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.8 percentage points.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Trump's weakest numbers aren't a surprise given stagflation and foreign conflict, but the real warning sign is softening Republican support on his core campaign issues."
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