President Donald Trump‘s approval rating is in the negative on almost every issue, according to a new poll.
A Marquette Law School poll, conducted between May 5-15 among 1,004 adults, shows that Trump is underwater on every issue other than border security, where his net approval rating stands at +12 points, with 56 percent approving and 44 percent disapproving.
Immigration ranks second in approval, with Americans evenly split 50-50, resulting in a net approval of zero.
Other areas where he’s in the negative include foreign policy (-14), the economy (-16), and the Russia-Ukraine conflict (-20).
Trump fares far worse on economic issues that hit voters’ wallets. His handling of tariffs draws a net disapproval of -26, while his response to inflation and the cost of living ranks lowest, with a net approval of -32. The poll had a margin of error of +/-3.6 percentage points.
Why It Matters
The stark divide in issue-based approval ratings highlights the challenges his administration faces in maintaining public support. While his approach to border security and immigration continues to resonate with much of the electorate, persistent dissatisfaction with his handling of inflation and tariffs threatens to erode that support.
What To Know
Inflation and the cost of living are not only where Trump performs worst but also the top issue for voters as 36 percent of Americans say it is the most important problem facing the country.
At the same time, 61 percent of Americans believe Trump’s policies will increase inflation, while 28 percent think they’ll reduce it.
And among Republicans, belief in Trump’s ability to reduce inflation has steadily declined. In December 2024, 76 percent of GOP voters believed his policies would lower inflation. By May 2025, that number had dropped to 55 percent. Trump’s approval rating on the economy has been in decline since he announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs on April 2.
The move roiled markets and sparked fears about inflation. Despite the uncertainty, the Labor Department reported slower annual price increases in April. Nonetheless, the poll shows that the national mood remains pessimistic. Just 42 percent of Americans say the country is headed in the right direction, while 58 percent say it is on the wrong track. On the economy, 32 percent rate conditions as excellent or good, while 69 percent say things are not so good or poor.
But on the issue of immigration, Trump fares slightly better. The poll shows that voters are largely supportive of Trump’s aggressive immigration agenda, which has included mass deportations and a shift toward stricter enforcement and reduced legal immigration pathways.
Some 66 percent of respondents favor deporting illegal immigrants, although support drops to 42 percent when respondents are told the immigrants have jobs, no criminal records, and have lived in the U.S. for years.
Trump’s floated proposal to send U.S. citizens convicted of certain crimes to prisons in El Salvador finds support from 40 percent of Americans, with backing strongest among Republicans.
This reflects optimism about Trump’s policy on border security, which has been evident in some polls, including the latest Fox News poll from April and the latest Strength In Numbers/Verasight poll, which showed Trump underwater on every issue other than border security.
Nonetheless, despite being a major theme of Trump’s presidency, immigration ranks as the most important issue for just 9 percent of respondents.
Overall, the poll shows that 46 percent approve of the job he is doing as president and 54 percent disapprove. This is unchanged from the Marquette national poll in March.
That is in line with other polls, which have shown that while Trump’s approval ratings have not improved dramatically since mid-April, they have also not deteriorated further.
For example, a YouGov poll conducted May 6–8 pegged Trump’s approval at 42 percent, unchanged from the previous week, while disapproval ticked down slightly from 52 to 50 percent.
Similarly, a Quantus Insights survey from May 5–7 showed no significant movement, reinforcing the idea that Trump’s numbers have stabilized—for now.
But other polls have shown Trump’s approval rating ticking up. That includes Newsweek’s tracker, which shows that Trump’s approval rating currently stands at 47 percent, while 50 percent disapprove. Earlier this month, Trump’s approval rating stood at 44 percent, while his disapproval was firmly in the 50s.
The latest Insider Advantage poll, conducted between May 17-19 among 1,000 likely voters, gave Trump a net approval rating of +11 points, with 55 percent approving and 44 percent disapproving. That was up from a net approval rating of +2 points in early May, when 46 percent approved and 44 percent disapproved.
And the latest Morning Consult poll also showed a surge in Trump’s approval rating, with 48 percent approving and 50 percent disapproving, giving the president a net approval rating of -2 points, up from -7 in early May when 45 percent approved and 52 percent disapproved. That is his highest approval rating since mid-March.
The latest J.L. Partners/Daily Mail poll conducted between May 13 and 14 among 1,003 registered voters, put Trump’s approval rating at 50 percent, up 5 points from 45 percent in April.
The most recent YouGov/Economist poll, conducted between May 16-19 among 1,710 adults, showed a smaller surge, with his approval rating at 43 percent, up from 42 percent in the previous poll, and his disapproval at 51 percent, down from 52 percent.
What People Are Saying
Marquette poll director Charles Franklin said: “The much higher rating of inflation and cost of living across all party groups compared to immigration is indicative of the risk Trump runs, despite his relatively high ratings on the border and immigration, in taking actions that threaten to increase inflation.”
What Happens Next
Trump’s approval rating could fluctuate in the coming weeks, depending on the outcome of key events, including critical negotiations in the Russia-Ukraine war, the evolving tariff situation and concerns about a recession.
The post Donald Trump’s Approval Rating Underwater on Nearly All Key Issues appeared first on Newsweek.
