At PoliticusUSA, we pride ourselves on our independence, free from party affiliations or the influence of special interests. Our news and opinions are authentically our own. If you appreciate our work, consider supporting us by subscribing.
There’s no sugarcoating it: Donald Trump’s presidency is stumbling. This observation isn’t a matter of partisan bias; it’s backed by data from The Economist, which indicates that the American populace perceives Trump as failing in his role.
Traditionally, when a new president takes office, there’s a honeymoon phase where approval ratings typically soar as citizens offer their elected choice a chance to prove themselves. Yet, Trump has not only failed to capitalize on this; he has started both of his terms with lower approval ratings compared to his predecessors.
But what stands out even more are the trends following those beginnings, which reveal his presidency sinking like a lead balloon.
Our first chart illustrates this concerning trajectory, depicting Trump’s approval ratings compared to where he stood during his first term in 2017:
In the chart provided, the solid red line represents Trump’s approval ratings in 2025, while the broken red line reflects his standing in 2017. The data speaks for itself: the approval ratings of Trump today rank lower than those of 2017, and intriguing to note, neither Barack Obama nor Joe Biden faced such low numbers at equivalent points in their first terms. Notably, Obama enjoyed considerable popularity back then, showcasing a stark contrast to Trump’s current predicament.
