What is the current approval rating for President Donald Trump? View the most recent polls

President Donald Trump faced a week of heightened emotions and political tensions following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, whose youth movement was critical to Trump’s 2024 election victory.

In a televised address from the Oval Office, Trump referred to Kirk as a “martyr for truth and freedom” and blamed the “radical left” for creating the political environment that led to his death. He promised to pursue those responsible, including individuals and organizations that he claims contribute to political violence through inflammatory rhetoric.

On September 12, authorities identified Kirk’s suspected killer as Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old White man from Utah who registered as an unaffiliated voter.

Political leaders, activists, and celebrities criticized Trump’s response to the killing, including TV show host Jimmy Kimmel, who criticized Trump on the Sept. 11 episode of his show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” for “angry finger-pointing” at Democrats, claiming they were responsible for Kirk’s fatal shooting.

Meanwhile, President Trump announced on Friday the deployment of National Guard troops to Memphis, Tennessee, citing “endemic crime” and describing the city as “deeply troubled.” The move, which is supported by state leaders, represents a significant increase in federal law enforcement presence in urban areas and may pave the way for similar deployments in other Republican-led states.

The administration’s immigration enforcement has also stepped up under “Operation Midway Blitz,” a crackdown in the Chicago area that targets undocumented immigrants with criminal records. The operation gained national attention after an ICE agent fatally shot Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, who reportedly resisted arrest and dragged an officer with his car. The incident reignited debate about the administration’s immigration policies and their effect on community safety.

Here’s what you should know about Trump’s approval ratings after this week’s events, including how they are calculated and how they compare to his first term and previous presidents.

What is Donald Trump’s approval rating?

Here are the latest approval ratings released about Trump’s administration:

1. Real Clear Polling‘s average of polls from Aug. 21 to Sept. 11 shows a 45.9 approval and 51.4 disapproval rate.
2. According to the most recent Gallup poll, Trump’s job approval rating was at 40%.
3. A Reuters/Ipsos poll from Sept. 5 to Sept. 9 reported that 42% of those surveyed gave him a favorable approval rating of his performance in office and 54% gave an unfavorable rating.
4. The New York Times daily average of polls showed a 44% approval and 52% disapproval as of Sept. 12.
5. A poll from the Associated Press and NORC showed 45% approve and 53% disapprove of Trump.
6. The Economist shows that 41% of people are favorable of Trump and 55% are unfavorable of him, according to the latest update from Sept. 12.
7. Rasmussen Reports poll from Sept. 12 showed 48% approval and 51% disapproval of Trump.
8. A Morning Consult poll updated Sept. 8 showed 45% of voters approve of Trump’s performance, while 52% disapprove.
9. The American Research Group poll from Aug. 21 showed 38% approve and 59% disapprove.

How does Trump’s approval rating compare with his 1st term?

Trump’s final approval rating was 34% when he left office in 2021. Throughout his first term, his approval rating averaged 41%.

How does Trump’s approval rating compare with past presidents?

1. Joe Biden – 40%
2. Donald Trump (first term) – 34%
3. Barack Obama – 59%
4. George W. Bush – 34%
5. Bill Clinton – 66%
6. George H.W. Bush – 56%
7. Ronald Reagan – 63%
8. Jimmy Carter – 34%
9. Gerald Ford – 53%
10. Richard Nixon – 24%

Are presidential approval ratings accurate?

According to Gallup, approval ratings are a “simple measure, yet a very powerful one that has played a key role in politics for over 70 years.”

A president’s approval rating reflects the percentage of Americans polled who are satisfied with the president’s performance. Legislation, actions, and elections can all have an impact on a president’s approval rating.

According to ABC News, an approval rating does more than just reflect how well the administration is doing for the general public; it can also influence the outcome of a politician’s upcoming election or how much they accomplish while in office.

While these ratings are simple to understand, Quorum reports that some analysts believe they are no longer as useful as they once were due to extreme partisanship and a polarized political climate.

“Presidential approval ratings have always been partisan, with members of the president’s party offering more positive assessments than those in the opposing party,” according to the Pew Research Center’s data. “But the differences between Republicans and Democrats on views of the president have grown substantially in recent decades.”

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