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Trump begins term with historically low approval rating

Jan 30, 2025, 6:25am EST
politicsNorth America
US President Donald Trump speaks during an event to sign the Laken Riley Act, at the White House in January 2025.
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters
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The News

President Trump isn’t experiencing the honeymoon period typical for new US presidents. Trump’s initial job approval rating stands at 47%, according to new Gallup data, while 48% of US adults disapprove of the job he is doing as president.

A chart showing the initial job approval ratings of elected US presidents, based on Gallup surveys, going back to Richard Nixon.

The rating is similar to the 45% approval Trump received at the start of his first term, and stands below all other elected US presidents stretching back to 1953 — underscoring how polarizing a figure he is. In comparison, Joe Biden entered office with a 57% approval rating (and left with 40%).

One slight bright spot for Trump: 46% of independents approve of the job he is doing, an increase of 6 percentage points compared to his first term.

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