Donald Trump's overall approval rating has reached a new low, standing at just 30% according to a recent survey. While this figure is hardly surprising given the president's polarizing persona, what is more notable is the decline in optimism among his supporters about the US economy.
A new poll suggests that confidence in the US economy has weakened even among Americans who generally approve of the president and voted for him. The survey found that in February 2025, 46% of Trump's supporters believed the economy would improve over the following year, but today that figure stands at just 13%. This significant drop in optimism is particularly concerning for a president who has presented himself as the expert on economic matters.
The survey, conducted between June 16 and June 20, found that just 30% of Americans approve of Trump's performance in office, while 66% disapprove. This represents the lowest approval rating recorded by the pollster during Trump's second term. While one poll does not tell the whole story, the trend is clear: significantly more Americans disapprove of Trump's performance than approve.
Things become even trickier when the conversation turns to the economy, an area where Trump has traditionally been seen as a strong point. However, the survey found that just 26% of Americans approve of Trump's handling of economic issues, while 70% disapprove. This is a stark contrast to the 41% economic approval rating recorded for Trump in June 2018 during his first term.
The outlook for next year is even gloomier, with just 7% thinking the economy will improve over the next 12 months, while three-quarters expect things to deteriorate further. This pessimism is not confined to debates about inflation charts and GDP figures but is also showing up in people's day-to-day lives. Nearly seven in 10 Americans described their own financial situation as 'bad', 'very bad', or 'terrible', while 73% said their household finances are getting worse.
Even among Americans who approve of Trump's performance, confidence in the economy has weakened. In February 2025, 46% of his supporters believed the economy would improve over the following year, but today that figure stands at just 13%. By contrast, 59% think it will get worse. This does not mean Trump's supporters have suddenly swapped their MAGA hats for Democratic campaign leaflets, but it does suggest that confidence in the economy has weakened even among people who continue to back the president.
The White House has dismissed the findings, arguing that the 'ultimate poll' was the 2024 presidential election, pointing to the fact that Trump received nearly 80 million votes. The administration's spokesman also claimed that policies are producing results and that 'this is just the beginning' as Trump's agenda continues to take effect.
While the American Research Group survey sits at the lower end of recent polling on Trump, the broader picture looks all rather familiar. Polling averages compiled by other trackers generally place Trump on 39% approval and 59% disapproval. The conclusions stay pretty much the same, with even the president's supporters starting to feel less optimistic about the economy.
