AP-NORC Poll: Trump Approval Rate 43% on Border, 37% on Economy/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A new AP-NORC poll finds President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have shifted in his second term, with border security and crime emerging as his strongest issues, while his economic approval lags, particularly among independents. Once buoyed by economic support, Trump now faces doubts on trade, healthcare, and foreign policy. Overall, his job approval stands at 39%, consistent with his historical averages.
Trump Approval Ratings Quick Looks
- Overall Approval: 39% of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s performance.
- Border Security Strength: Trump scores higher approval on border security than on overall job performance.
- Immigration Issues: Approval slightly dipped to 43%, still stronger than in his first term.
- Crime Approval: Fell from 53% in August to 46% in September, but remains above his overall rating.
- Economic Weakness: Just 37% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the economy.
- Independents’ Doubts: Only 20% of independents support his economic management.
- Trade and Healthcare: Lowest marks among Republicans, with just 7 in 10 approving.
- Tariffs Unpopular: Six in 10 Americans say Trump has “gone too far” on tariffs.
- Foreign Policy: 37% approve of Trump’s handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- Steady Trend: Trump’s approval has stayed within a narrow range across both terms.
Deep Look: Trump’s Poll Numbers Show Economic Weakness, Border Security as New Strength
WASHINGTON — New polling suggests that President Donald Trump’s second-term strengths look markedly different from those in his first. Once buoyed by voter confidence in the economy, Trump’s approval ratings now indicate economic vulnerability, with Americans — especially independents — showing less faith in his management of financial issues.
Instead, the poll, conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, highlights that border security and crime have become his strongest issues, even as overall approval of his presidency remains largely unchanged.
Overall Job Approval Steady at 39%
Despite shifting issue ratings, Trump’s overall approval remains 39%, matching his long-term average. The figure reflects a return to his baseline following a minor uptick in August, underscoring a consistent pattern of polarized yet steady support that characterized his first term as well.
Border Security Emerges as a Key Strength
Perhaps the most striking turnaround has been in border security. Once a politically fraught issue during his first term, Trump has turned it into a signature strength of his second.
- In 2019, only 4 in 10 Americans approved of his approach as he fought for border wall funding.
- Today, approval for his border security stance outpaces his overall approval rating, with most Americans rating his performance higher on this issue than on others, including crime and immigration.
This reversal reflects the impact of Trump’s second-term policies, which include aggressive deportations and stricter enforcement measures at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Immigration Approval Dips, but Still Stronger Than Before
On immigration more broadly, Trump’s ratings have slipped slightly. In March, about half of Americans approved of his handling of the issue; the latest poll shows 43% approval.
Even so, the numbers remain higher than during much of his first term, when fewer than 40% supported his immigration policies. Importantly, immigration has shifted from a consistent weakness in his first term to a relative strength in his second.
Still, there are concerns: nearly half of Americans believe Trump has “gone too far” in deportation efforts — a view that has held steady since April.
Crime Ratings Higher Than Overall Approval
Trump also receives relatively strong marks on crime, though there are signs of softening. Approval has fallen from 53% in August — when he ordered the National Guard to Washington, D.C. — to 46% in September.
Yet this still exceeds his overall job approval. Among independents, 40% approve of his handling of crime compared to just 25% who approve of his presidency overall.
Economy: From Strength to Liability
The poll shows Trump’s biggest vulnerability is the economy, historically a strong issue for Republican presidents. Only 37% of Americans approve of his handling of economic matters, a drop from 43% in August.
The weakness is most acute among independents, with just 20% approving. That figure represents a dramatic fall from his first term, when nearly half of all Americans supported his economic approach.
The contrast to early 2020 is stark: just before the COVID-19 pandemic sparked an economic downturn, Trump enjoyed some of his highest approval ratings on economic management. Today, concerns about inflation, tariffs, and stagnant growth dominate public sentiment.
Trade and Health Care: Weak Spots Among Republicans
Even within his own party, Trump faces lower approval on trade and healthcare than on other issues. About 7 in 10 Republicans approve of his handling of both — the weakest support levels among GOP voters.
Among the broader public:
- Only one-third of Americans approve of his trade policies.
- Similar numbers approve of his healthcare management.
Tariffs are particularly unpopular. About 6 in 10 Americans believe Trump has gone too far in imposing new duties on imports, including three in ten Republicans.
Foreign Policy and the Middle East
The survey also measured approval of Trump’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Just 37% of Americans approve, down from 44% in March.
- Republican support dropped to 72%, compared with 82% earlier this year.
- Democratic support also declined, with only 9% approving, down from 14%.
Despite these dips, overall approval of Trump’s foreign policy remains stable, with about 4 in 10 Americans approving — consistent with results in April.
Poll Methodology
The AP-NORC survey was conducted Sept. 11–15 with a nationally representative sample of 1,183 adults drawn from the AmeriSpeak Panel. The margin of sampling error is ±3.8 percentage points.
