Trump’s Approval Soars to Record High as Optimism Sweeps America
President Donald Trump has reached his highest approval rating since taking office, while optimism about the country’s direction is at a 20-year high, according to a new NBC News poll released Sunday.
Three months into his second term, 47 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s performance, while 51 percent disapprove. This marks the highest approval rating he has received in NBC’s polling history, tying his previous best from early 2020 and October 2018.
NBC News poll: 44% say the country is headed in the right direction under Trump—up from 27% in November.
That’s the highest number since 2012. It hasn’t hit 44%+ since 2004.
🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Anu0I2HTdJ
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 16, 2025
Public sentiment about the nation’s trajectory has shifted significantly. According to the poll, 44 percent of registered voters believe the U.S. is on the right track, the highest percentage recorded since 2004, while 54 percent still say the country is headed in the wrong direction.
This represents a notable improvement from September of last year, when only 28 percent said the country was moving in the right direction and 65 percent felt it was off course under the previous administration.
Trump’s approval ratings remain deeply divided along party lines. Among Republicans, he enjoys overwhelming support, with 90 percent approving of his performance, while only 4 percent of Democrats back him.
This 86-point gap marks the widest partisan divide in presidential approval ratings ever recorded by NBC’s polling. Other polls reflect a similar trend.
According to the latest RealClearPolitics average, Trump’s approval stands at 48.2 percent—higher than his 44 percent rating at this point in his first term but lower than former PresidentJoe Biden’s 53 percent at the same stage of his presidency, the New York Post reports.
Despite ongoing political divisions, many voters continue to support Trump’s policies, particularly on trade and border security. His approach to border enforcement remains popular, with 56 percent of respondents viewing it as a positive change.
Trump’s trade policies, which include tariffs of 25 percent on Canada and Mexico and 20 percent on China, have sparked debate. However, 41 percent of Americans support these measures, while 38 percent oppose them.
His efforts to cut government spending also receive more approval than disapproval, with 47 percent in favor and 29 percent opposed. Even on controversial foreign policy issues like the Ukraine war and NATO, public opinion remains nearly split, with 41 percent approving of Trump’s approach and 40 percent disapproving.
For the first time in NBC’s polling, more than half of Americans—54 percent—express disapproval of Trump’s economic management. However, views on inflation are mixed.
While 40 percent believe his policies are helping to control rising costs, 30 percent think they are making inflation worse and 28 percent say they have had no effect. Despite economic concerns, Trump’s overall approval rating has remained stable, bolstered by strong support from voters who continue to back his leadership.
One of the key initiatives of Trump’s second term has been the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a program designed to cut costs and reduce the national deficit. Public opinion on the initiative is divided, with 47 percent disapproving and 41 percent in favor.
However, when asked about the concept itself, 46 percent see it as a good idea, while 40 percent view it negatively, illustrating the ongoing debate over its potential impact.
As Trump’s approval rating rises, the Democratic Party faces historically low favorability ratings. Only 27 percent of Americans have a positive view of the party, the lowest recorded in NBC News polling, while 55 percent hold a negative opinion.
A CNN poll reflects similar findings, with Democrats receiving just 29 percent favorability. These declining numbers suggest growing difficulties for the party, particularly as Trump strengthens his support among conservatives and independents.
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