Trump’s Approval Plummets to 37% as Independents Abandon Him in Second Term Slide
Gallup poll shows sharp decline in public support amid unpopular policy moves, weakened economic confidence, and deepening partisan divide
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump is facing a serious credibility crisis just six months into his second term, as his job approval rating has fallen to 37%, marking the lowest point of this term and just three points above his all-time low of 34% recorded during the final days of his first term.
The most dramatic shift comes from independent voters, whose support for Trump has collapsed to 29%, according to a new Gallup poll conducted July 7–21. That figure matches their lowest-ever approval of Trump during either term. The decline is part of a broader trend that shows the president losing ground with every group except his Republican base, which continues to back him overwhelmingly at around 90%.
Independents Are Leaving in Droves
Since January, when Trump began his second term, his approval rating among independents has dropped 17 points, driving the overall 10-point slide in public support. The numbers suggest a growing disillusionment with Trump’s leadership, particularly over economic and health care policy.
Gallup’s findings reflect a severe erosion of confidence outside the Republican base:
Democrats: Approval remains in the low single digits.
Independents: No more than 36% approve of Trump’s handling of any major issue.
Republicans: Near-unanimous support, including 93% approval on foreign affairs.
The Fallout of the “One Big Beautiful Bill”
The polling period began just after Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” into law on July 4, a sweeping piece of legislation that encapsulates many of his second-term promises. The bill slashes funding for healthcare, nutrition assistance (SNAP), and Medicaid, while delivering deep tax cuts to individuals and corporations. It also ramps up spending on border security, fossil fuel energy production, and military defense. While Trump hailed the bill as a landmark achievement, independents and moderates appear to have recoiled from its contents particularly its impact on essential services.
Across the Board: Poor Performance on Key Issues
Gallup asked Americans to rate Trump’s performance on eight major domestic and foreign policy areas. The results paint a picture of a president underwater on every front:
Iran Relations: 42% approval (highest)
Foreign Affairs (General): 41%
Immigration: 38%
Economy: 37%
Israel-Palestine Situation: 36%
Foreign Trade: 36%
Ukraine: 33%
Federal Budget: 29% (lowest)
Even among independents, the highest-rated issue, Trump’s handling of Iran, received just 36% approval. His marks for managing the federal budget sunk to a staggering 19%, reflecting widespread concern over mounting deficits and cuts to domestic programs.
Notably, Republicans gave Trump strong marks across all eight categories, with 93% approving of his handling of foreign affairs and at least 81% backing him on every issue. Democrats, by contrast, remained uniformly opposed, offering approval in the single digits across all categories except Ukraine (12%).
Historical Context: A Troubling Benchmark
Trump’s second-quarter average approval rating of 40% mirrors his historically low 39% second-quarter average during his first term. By contrast, the post-WWII average for presidents in their second quarter is 59%.
Only Bill Clinton, at 44%, scored below majority approval during this early phase of a second term. Among two-term presidents, only Richard Nixon, who averaged 44% amid Watergate in 1973, comes close to Trump’s current standing. Presidents Obama, Bush, Eisenhower, Reagan, and Clinton all fared better at this stage in their presidencies.
Favorability Falls, Even Among Independents
Trump’s overall favorable rating now stands at 41%, down from 48% in both November 2024 (post-election) and January 2025 (inauguration). While Republicans remain stalwart, with 93% favorability, independents are again the story: their favorable view of Trump has fallen 13 points, from 47% to 34% in just six months. Democrats, for their part, show no signs of softening Trump’s favorable rating among them is just 4%, down slightly from 7% in January.
The Bigger Picture: Accomplishment Without Popularity
Despite achieving several second-term policy goals, Trump is facing a public backlash similar to the end of his first term. The latest polling suggests that outside of his political base, most Americans are not satisfied with his performance a dangerous political position heading into what is expected to be a tumultuous 2026 midterm season.He is, in many ways, a president isolated by success fulfilling campaign promises that please hardline conservatives while alienating the broader electorate. With independents turning their backs, favorability in decline, and low marks across nearly every major issue, Trump enters the second half of 2025 with approval ratings nearly as low as the day he left office in 2021.
And unless he finds a way to broaden his appeal beyond the MAGA faithful, those numbers may yet go lower.
Sources:
