WASHINGTON, D.C. — Six months into his second term, President Donald Trump’s job approval rating has fallen to a new low of 37%, a stark contrast from the beginning of his presidency. This figure is only slightly above his all-time low of 34% recorded at the end of his first term.
The latest Gallup poll, conducted between July 7-21, 2025, indicates a significant 10 percentage point drop among U.S. adults since Trump assumed office for his second term in January. Particularly alarming for Trump is the 17-point decline in approval ratings among independents, now sitting at just 29%.
Despite the nationwide dip in approval, Republican ratings have remained relatively stable, with approximately 90% of party members continuing to support the president. On the other hand, Democratic approval ratings remain in the low single digits.
The Gallup poll was initiated shortly after President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law on July 4. This act focuses on key aspects of Trump’s second-term agenda, implementing tax cuts for individuals and corporations, while ramping up funding for border security, defense, and energy production. In a controversial move, the law also reduces funding for healthcare and nutrition programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to mitigate some of the fiscal impacts of these tax cuts and spending increases.
In terms of handling specific foreign and domestic issues, Trump’s ratings do not fare much better. His performance on Iran remains his highest-rated area, with a 42% approval, followed closely by foreign affairs at 41%. His scores for immigration and economic management are somewhat lower at 38% and 37%, respectively.
However, issues such as the situation in Ukraine and federal budgeting resonate poorly with Americans, receiving only 33% and 29% approval ratings, respectively. Notably, Trump’s ratings for handling these issues have declined compared to earlier in the year, with the federal budget seeing a significant 14-point drop.
Republicans overwhelmingly back Trump on these topics, with approval ratings for his handling of foreign affairs reaching as high as 93%. However, ratings for Trump’s performance on issues like immigration and the economy are lower among independent voters, who show limited enthusiasm for his policies, with only 36% approving of his handling on any front.
The situation with Iran, which was measured for the first time in Trump’s second term, does garner slightly more approval among independents (36%), while the federal budget remains at the lowest approval level among all issues (19%).
For the second quarter of his presidency that spanned from April 20 to July 19, Trump’s average job approval rating stood at 40%. This rating aligns closely with the second-quarter averages during his first term, which was registered at 39%. In stark contrast, the average approval rating for all post-World War II presidents during their second quarters from 1952 to 2020 is around 59%.
Historically, Bill Clinton was the only other president to experience sub-majority approval ratings during his second quarter, achieving only 44%. Trump’s current ratings are reminiscent of Richard Nixon, whose 44% approval rating in 1973 was mired in the Watergate scandal, indicating a troubling parallel between the two presidencies.
Other two-term presidents also experienced better second-quarter ratings during their second terms, with Barack Obama and George W. Bush falling below the 50% mark, while figures like Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, and Clinton enjoyed majority approval during similar timeframes.
Additionally, Trump’s favorable rating has decreased by seven points since January, now resting at 41%. Just prior to his inauguration, he had readings of 48%, reflecting a decline from those early optimistic figures. To put this in perspective, Trump’s favorable ratings have historically peaked higher at 50% in 2005 and 49% in April 2020.
Within the Republican Party, Trump’s favorable ratings remain robust at 93%, though his support among Democrats has stagnated at 4%, a slight drop from January’s 7%. Independents, however, have shown the most significant decline, with their favorable rating dropping from 47% in January to just 34% now.
Overall, President Trump is concluding the second quarter of his term facing challenges on multiple fronts despite having achieved many of his key objectives. His approval ratings reflect deep dissatisfaction beyond his Republican base. As he navigates these tumultuous waters, Trump’s standing appears precarious, echoing earlier low points of his initial term and raising questions about his future effectiveness as a leader.
Stay connected with the latest updates and insights by following @Gallup on X and on Instagram. You can explore President Trump’s approval ratings more comprehensively in the Gallup Presidential Job Approval Center, gaining deeper insights into how his performance measures against those of past presidents.
The Gallup Poll Social Series provides additional information on public opinion trends, offering valuable clues into the sentiment of American voters.
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