WASHINGTON — Only about one-quarter of U.S. adults say President 's policies helped them since he took office, according to a new poll that found underwhelming marks for him on key issues, including the economy, immigration, government spending and health care.
In fact, the Republican president fails to earn majority approval on any of the issues included in the poll from .
While a majority of Americans see Trump as at least "somewhat" capable of getting things done after the passage of, fewer believe he understands the problems facing people like them.
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President Donald Trump poses for a photo July 4 after signing his signature bill of tax breaks and spending cuts at the White House in Washington, surrounded by members of Congress, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., left.
Most don't see positive impact from Trump's policies
Roughly half of U.S. adults report that Trump's policies did "more to hurt" them since began six months ago, the survey found. About 2 in 10 say his policies have "not made a difference" in their lives, with about one-quarter saying his policies did "more to help" them.
The AP-NORC poll of 1,437 adults was conducted July 10-14, using a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.
The vast majority of Democrats and about half of independents say Trump's policies had a negative impact, while even many Republicans say they haven't seen positive effects.
"As it sits today, I don't know his policies have made much of a difference in my day-to-day life," said Landon Lindemer, 29, a logistics manager from suburban Atlanta who voted for Trump three times.
Lindemer said he generally approves of Trump's job performance, even if he has concerns about the massive spending in the big law the president."I'm not sold it's really going to help," he said.
Trump holds the tax breaks and spending cuts law after he signed itJuly 4 at the White House in Washington.
Low but steady presidential approval ratings
The mixed reviews on Trump's policies come as he struggles to follow through on key campaign promises, including lowering costs for working-class Americans, preserving popular social welfare programs like Medicaid, ending foreign wars and lowering government spending.
last month to its highest level since February as Trump’spush up the cost of everything from groceries and clothes to furniture and appliances.Violent conflicts still rage in Israel and Ukraine.
Trump’s budget bill included Medicaid cuts that will lead toand, the Congressional Budget Office estimated.
Overall, the new poll found that about 4 in 10 U.S. adults approve of Trump's job performance, in line with his June approval but historically weak compared with recent presidents. Closer to half of U.S. adults approved of President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama at roughly the same point in their Democratic presidencies, according to polls from AP-NORC and, though Biden's approval rating declined in the second half of his first year andfor the rest of his time in office.
Poll respondent Bailey Neill, 42, an attorney from San Antonio, said he was "terrified" of Trump. The Democrat, who describes himself as a "student of history," cast Trump as an authoritarian who followed the controversial playbook outlined in, afor transformative changes across the federal government.
"In terms of my day-to-day life, I really haven't seen a change, except for the general fear and anxiety I feel at a core level," Neill said.
A political firestorm hit Wall Street Wednesday as speculation intensified that Trump may fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell before his term ends in 2026, raising alarms over central bank independence. The New York Times reported that Trump showed GOP lawmakers a draft termination letter and polled them on whether he should remove Powell. Though Trump later claimed he had no imminent plans, he admitted “almost everyone” urged him to go through with it. Legal scholars warn that such a move without cause could spark a constitutional crisis. The controversy deepened after the latest PPI report showed producer inflation easing more than expected. Trump allies also began targeting the Fed’s $2.5 billion renovation, suggesting it could justify Powell’s firing “for cause.”
Most disapprove of Trump's handling of immigration, economy and more
Trump earned less than 50% approval on every issue included in the new AP-NORC poll, including the economy, government spending, trade, taxes, immigration, health care and his handling of the conflict in the Middle East.
Only 43% of U.S. adults said they approved of his handling of immigration, down slightly from the 49% who back in March.
Trump also appears to have lost some support for his spending decisions. About 4 in 10 Americans approve of Trump's handling of government spending, down from 46% in March.
On the economy overall, roughly 4 in 10 adults approve of Trump's performance, which hasn't changed measurably in the past few months.
Timothy Dwyer, 26, of Dyersburg, Tennessee, a self-described independent who works in retail sales and leans Republican, said Trump's work on the economy, especially , "really sucked."
"He's turned us into a toilet and has absolutely made us the laughing stock of the world," Dwyer said of Trump's trade policies, while lamenting the president's work on trying to reduce grocery prices and health care costs.
Most view Trump as effective, but fewer think he understands their needs
Despite such criticism, most U.S. adults think Trump is at least somewhat effective.
About 6 in 10 say "capable of getting things done" describes Trump at least "somewhat" well. About half of U.S. adults say the same about the phrases "good negotiator" or "capable of handling a crisis."
That doesn't mean they believe Trump can see things from their perspective.
Most Americans, 56%, say "understands the problems facing people like you" is a phrase that describes Trump "not very well" or "not well at all." His numbers on the question are relatively weak even among those in his party: Just about half of Republicans say he understands the problems facing people like them "extremely" or "very" well.
Trump tours an immigration detention center dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz'
President Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and others tour "Alligator Alcatraz," a new migrant detention facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility, onTuesday, July 1, 2025, in Ochopee, Fla.
Protesters march Tuesday, July 1, 2025, outside the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport where President Donald Trump appeared in Ochopee, Fla.
President Donald Trump tours "Alligator Alcatraz," a new migrant detention facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility, on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Ochopee, Fla.
Protesters march Tuesday, July 1, 2025, outside the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport where President Donald Trump appeared in Ochopee, Fla.
President Donald Trump listens to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem onTuesday, July 1, 2025, as they and others tour "Alligator Alcatraz," a new migrant detention facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility, in Ochopee, Fla.
Protesters march Tuesday, July 1, 2025, outside the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport where President Donald Trump appeared in Ochopee, Fla.
President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and others tour "Alligator Alcatraz," a new migrant detention facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility, on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Ochopee, Fla.
A truck drives past the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport where President Donald Trump appeared Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Ochopee, Fla.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks Tuesday, July 1, 2025, during a roundtable at "Alligator Alcatraz," a new migrant detention facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility in Ochopee, Fla.
President Donald Trump talks with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis during a roundtable Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at "Alligator Alcatraz," a new migrant detention facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility in Ochopee, Fla.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, President Donald Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and others tour "Alligator Alcatraz," a new migrant detention facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility, on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Ochopee, Fla.
