• President Trump's approval rating stands at 42% in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, reflecting a persistently divided electorate.
  • A significant intensity gap defines his presidency, with a near-majority of Americans reporting strong disapproval of his job performance.
  • The rating remains notably lower than his predecessors at similar points in their terms, continuing a pattern of historically low approval.

President Donald Trump's job approval rating is holding steady at 42%, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, underscoring the deep and persistent political divisions that have characterized his time in office. The figure, which hovers near the low point for his term, is coupled with a disapproval rating of approximately 54%.

The most striking feature of the poll is the intensity of sentiment. A large share of Americans report strongly disapproving of the president's job performance, creating a unique and historically high intensity of opposition that has begun to exact a political cost. This dynamic is a key factor shaping the difficult reception for the administration's legislative agenda, including the deeply unpopular "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBBA), which Trump has recently attempted to rebrand.

When compared to his modern-era predecessors, Trump's approval is notably lower. In August, Gallup reported his approval at 40%, a figure that lags behind where Presidents Reagan, Obama, and George W. Bush stood at a similar stage in their terms. This pattern of net negative ratings has been a consistent feature of his presidency.

The administration has pointed to other surveys, with one White House article citing a separate poll showing a 55% approval rating and framing it as an all-time high linked to policy accomplishments on border security and economic growth. However, more neutral polling aggregates continue to show net negative ratings, with a Quinnipiac survey in late August placing his approval at 37% with a net negative rating of -18 points—his lowest since January 2021.

Public skepticism extends to specific policies, particularly on economic and trade issues like tariffs, where the president also faces negative net approval. The unprecedented gap between strong disapproval and support continues to fuel intense media and political discourse, with experts suggesting that unless the administration finds ways to broaden its coalition, these ratings will continue to hamper legislative efforts and influence the narrative heading toward the 2026 midterm elections.