Trump’s Second Term Approval Hits Historic Low at 47%

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump‘s second-term inauguration has been met with a historically low approval rating of 47%, according to a Gallup poll conducted Jan. 21-27, 2025. This marks the second time Trump has entered office with a sub-50% approval rating, a distinction no other elected president has shared since Gallup began tracking in 1953.

Trump’s disapproval rating stands at 48%, three points higher than at the start of his first term in 2017. The 85-point gap between Republican (91%) and Democratic (6%) approval underscores the deep partisan divide that has characterized his presidency. Independents, meanwhile, show a 46% approval rate.

Historically, Trump’s initial approval ratings are significantly lower than those of his predecessors. John F. Kennedy holds the record for the highest inaugural approval at 72%, followed by Dwight Eisenhower and Barack Obama, both at 68%. Even George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, who had 51% approval ratings early in their presidencies, enjoyed more neutral public sentiment compared to Trump’s polarized reception.

Trump’s first term averaged a 41% approval rating, and he never surpassed 50% during his presidency. His lowest point came in January 2021, when his approval dropped to 34% following the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Despite this, his current 47% rating is among his highest since taking office.

The Gallup poll also revealed sharp contrasts in public perception of Trump’s policy pace. While 40% of Americans believe his actions are “about right,” 37% think he is moving “too fast,” and 14% say he is not acting quickly enough. Partisan views are stark: 83% of Republicans approve of his pace, while 61% of Democrats disapprove.

Trump’s second term began with a flurry of executive actions targeting immigration, defense, foreign policy, and the environment. However, the poll was conducted before a federal judge temporarily blocked his administration’s pause on trillions of dollars in federal financial assistance, which was later rescinded.

Gallup’s historical data shows that most presidents experience a “honeymoon period” with elevated approval ratings early in their terms. Trump, however, has consistently defied this trend. His initial 45% approval in 2017 was only slightly higher than his first-term average, and his current ratings suggest a similar trajectory.

As Trump’s presidency progresses, his approval ratings will continue to be a key indicator of his political standing. With Republicans overwhelmingly supportive and Democrats largely opposed, the partisan divide remains a defining feature of his administration.