WASHINGTON — A recent poll reveals that a significant portion of Americans disapprove of President Trump’s rapid attempts to implement his plans, and even among his party members, there’s a lack of strong conviction regarding his current focus. According to a survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, nearly double the number of Americans believe Trump is concentrating on the wrong priorities compared to those who feel he is addressing the right ones.
Approximately four in ten Americans categorize Trump’s performance as “terrible” during his second term, while one in ten label it as “poor.” Conversely, about three in ten deem his performance as “great” or “good,” with slightly less than two in ten rating it as “average.”
The overall drama of Trump’s first 100 days in his second term hasn’t entirely caught the public off guard. Nearly 70% of U.S. adults stated that these initial months unfolded as anticipated, while roughly 30% consider the president’s actions as mostly unexpected. Nonetheless, this does not equate to satisfaction with his presidency.
Democratic dissatisfaction with the Trump administration’s direction has intensified since his inauguration on January 20. Around three-quarters of Democrats express that Trump is focused on the wrong issues, and approximately 70% rate his presidency as “terrible,” an uptick from January, when 60% expected him to perform poorly. Rahsaan Henderson, a Californian Democrat, described these days as prolonged, expressing concerns for the years ahead, foreseeing an environment of defiance and resistance to Trump’s agenda.
Republicans generally uphold Trump but are divided on his agenda. While around 70% consider him a “good” or better president, only half believe he’s prioritized correctly. Approximately a quarter describe his focus as mixed, and about 10% criticize his priorities. Reflecting a minority view with these sentiments, Republican Tanner Bergstrom from Minnesota admires Trump for delivering on campaign promises, appreciating his commitment despite personal disagreements with some policies.
Among those caught off guard by Trump’s early actions, predominantly Democrats and independents, many believe his priorities are misplaced and evaluate his presidency harshly compared to those who expected this trajectory. Overall, around 40% approve of his performance in office, with immigration emerging as an area of relative strength. With 46% approval on immigration, this is a bit higher than his overall approval rating; however, issues such as foreign policy, trade, and economic matters present potential challenges. Trump’s approval ratings on these matters remain below 40% among U.S. adults.
Signals within the party indicate waning enthusiasm among some supporters. The percentage of Republicans who rate the president as “good” has declined by roughly 10 points since January. There’s also a slight increase in the share of Republicans predicting a “poor” or “terrible” term, though only 16% currently describe his term that way.
Among Republicans voicing mixed feelings is Stephanie Melnyk from Tennessee, who appreciates Trump broadly but criticizes his foreign policy, particularly actions related to Ukraine. Given her Ukrainian heritage, Melnyk distrusts Putin and prefers that Trump avoid hasty resolutions, suggesting his rhetoric sometimes sounds immature.
It remains typical for presidential approval to enjoy a high before governing realities set in, and Trump still garners strong Republican approval. Around 40% of Americans hold a favorable view of Trump, reflecting his support base. This is notably higher within the Republican camp with approximately 80% expressing a positive stance. Vice President JD Vance, in comparison, has a smaller but favorable reception with one-third of Americans viewing him positively, including a substantial 70% of Republicans.
Republicans particularly commend the administration’s reduction in government size, led by adviser Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Matthew Spencer from Texas appreciates Trump’s efforts to reduce spending and maintain national strength, celebrating border control measures and tariff policies.
Carlos Guevara, a Florida resident, supports DOGE’s impact and believes tariffs could foster domestic manufacturing, arguing potential short-term sacrifices could yield long-term gains. In stark contrast, Democrats report a bleak economic outlook since Trump’s tenure began, with widespread disapproval over his immigration and tariff policies.
Gabriel Antonucci, a Democrat in South Carolina, remarks on the perceived folly of Trump’s second term, asserting plans could worsen matters by the term’s end. The AP-NORC survey reached out to 1,260 adults between April 17-21 through NORC’s AmeriSpeak Panel, a nationally representative sample. The survey carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.