Trump’s Approval Rating Before the Government Shutdown: Polling

A Presidency Marked by Controversy

President Donald Trump’s first eight months in office have been defined by turbulence and unprecedented actions — from deploying troops in U.S. cities to enacting sweeping tariffs and engaging in political battles on social media. Despite the chaos, his approval rating has remained largely unchanged in recent months.

Trump has tested the limits of presidential authority and faced repeated legal challenges. Yet, as his administration navigates its first major government shutdown since October 1, his popularity shows little sign of movement. Kelsey Kremer/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK

Approval Ratings Hold Steady Amid Shutdown

A New York Times/Siena poll conducted between September 22–27 found Trump’s approval rating steady at 43%, with opinions largely cemented. “At the start of his term, Mr. Trump’s approval rating fell from its post-election highs, and it remains weak compared with his predecessors,” the Times noted, adding that “over the last several months, his rating has been resilient and stable.”

The survey also revealed that 33% of voters blamed both parties equally for the shutdown, while 26% pinned responsibility on congressional Republicans and Trump. Nineteen percent blamed Democrats, and 21% were unsure. Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Pew Survey: Democrats Turn on Their Own Leaders

A Pew Research Center poll taken from September 22–28 showed Trump’s approval at 40%, slightly higher than in August. The more striking finding, however, was internal discontent among Democrats — 59% disapproved of their own party leaders’ performance in Congress, marking the first such reversal in over a decade.

In contrast, 69% of Republicans expressed satisfaction with their party’s congressional leadership, a sharp increase from 54% in 2023. Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Economy Seen as Declining

An Economist/YouGov poll conducted from September 26–29 reported a 40% approval rating for Trump, near his term low. A majority of Americans, 53%, said the economy is getting worse, compared to just 19% who said it’s improving.

Even among Republicans, optimism has fallen: only 41% believe the economy is improving, while 22% say it is worsening — the bleakest assessment from his party this term. John Guccione www.advergroup.com / Pexels

Historically Low Approval for a Sitting President

Gallup’s September survey found Trump’s approval at 40%, lower than any modern president’s at the same point in their first year. In comparison, Barack Obama held 52% in 2009, George W. Bush 76% in 2001, and Ronald Reagan 52% in 1981.

Aggregated polling from RealClearPolitics shows a gradual decline since Trump’s early term high of 52% in January. His approval dipped below water in March and hit a new low — 44.8% — on September 30, just before the government shutdown began. PD-US / Wikimedia