Donald Trump Disapproval Rating Hits New 2025 High

Newsweek

a day ago

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Donald Trump's disapproval rating has climbed to its highest level of the year, according to newly released polling data.
The latest ActiVote poll, conducted between July 1 and 31 among 454 respondents, put Trump's disapproval rating at 52.1 percent, up from 51.5 percent last month. Meanwhile, his approval rating has remained at 44.5 percent.
Why It Matters
Voters have in particular raised concerns about the administration's handling of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's case, as well as Trump's tariffs policies and his impact on the economy more broadly.
File photo: Donald Trump gestures as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House., Friday, August 1, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
File photo: Donald Trump gestures as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House., Friday, August 1, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
What To Know
The latest data marks a stark reversal from earlier in the year, when Trump held a net positive approval rating. In January, 52 percent of Americans approved of his performance, while 46 percent disapproved—a net approval of +6. But that lead evaporated by March, and his numbers have since trended steadily downward.
By April, Trump's disapproval rating had begun to consistently outpace approval, with 45 percent approving and 51 percent disapproving. After a brief improvement in May, his net approval dropped to -7 in both June and July.
Despite the decline, July's numbers remain higher than Trump's average approval rating during his first term (41 percent), and also above President Biden's full-term average (41 percent) and his final-year rating (40 percent).
Trump also maintains a net positive rating among rural voters, men, older Americans (50-plus), Republicans, white voters, and those with lower incomes, all of whom were crucial to his victory in 2024. Meanwhile, the politically crucial centrist group shifted back into net positive territory for Trump in July, giving him a +4 approval rating, up from -6 last month.
However, approval within his own base has slipped: support among the moderate right and right dropped to 82 percent, down 4 points from June.
Epstein Scandal Rekindles Public Scrutiny
The fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal continues to cast a shadow over Trump and his administration.
Polls have shown that a bipartisan majority of voters, including MAGA supporters, now believe that the government should release all files related to Epstein, with many suspecting a cover-up.
Epstein, a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender, died by suicide in jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. There is no evidence that Trump was involved in Epstein's crimes.
Trump has acknowledged knowing the man in the 1990s and early 2000s but maintains that he cut ties with him well before Epstein's 2006 arrest. A recent Wall Street Journal report uncovered a 2003 birthday card Trump allegedly sent to Epstein. The card included a drawing of a naked woman and the message: "We have certain things in common … may every day be another wonderful secret."
The discontent intensified when a Justice Department memo last month confirmed Epstein died by suicide in 2019 and that the government does not possess a "client list"—directly contradicting conspiracy theories promoted by some Trump-aligned figures.
Trump reportedly lashed out at his own supporters, calling them "weaklings" for being "duped" by what he called a "hoax" pushed by Democrats. He later walked back the comments and directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to begin the process of unsealing grand jury materials related to Epstein.
Economic Worries Add To Pressure
Economic concerns are also causing a headache for the Trump administration, with multiple recent polls showing a downward trend in the president's approval rating on his handling of the economy and inflation.
Inflation rose to 2.7 percent in June, and job growth slowed sharply in July, with just 73,000 new jobs added—down from 147,000 the previous month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate edged up to 4.2 percent, though it remains near historic lows.
Amid those concerns, other polls have also shown Trump's approval rating sliding to lows.
The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that Trump's approval rating had dropped to 40 percent, with 56 percent disapproving, giving him a net approval rating of -16 points. The latest YouGov/Economist poll also showed Trump's approval rating at its lowest level yet, with 40 percent approving and 55 percent disapproving.
And a new Zogby Strategies poll also showed Trump's overall approval rating had slipped to an all-time low, with just 43 percent of voters approving of his performance, while 54 percent disapproved, marking a net approval rating of -11 points. That is down from -8 net approval in June and -1 in May.
Poll Date Approve Disapprove ActiVote July 1-31 45 52 RMG Research July 23-31 50 48 John Zogby Strategies July 28-29 43 54 YouGov/Economist July 25-28 40 55 Ipsos/Reuters July 25-27 40 56 Morning Consult July 25-27 47 50 McLaughlin and Associates July 21-24 47 54 Quantus Insights July 21-23 47 50 Emerson College July 21-22 46 47 Trafalgar Group/Insider Advantage July 22-23 50 48
But other polls show slight improvements: Morning Consult has Trump at 47 percent approval, with net approval rising to -3 from -7.
Newsweek's poll tracker shows a similar uptick, with his net approval at -5 (46 percent approve; 51 percent disapprove), up from -7 yesterday and -10 last week.
What Happens Next
Trump's approval rating will continue to fluctuate throughout his term in office as he implements his policy agenda. Whether it falls enough to impact the Republican Party in the November 2026 midterms remains to be seen.