As President Donald Trump advances through the early months of his second term, his approval ratings exhibit a notable stability yet remain below the pivotal 50% mark. In the latest Morning Consult poll, the president's support registers at 46%, contrasted with a 51% disapproval rating. This marginal net rating of -5 indicates that a majority of voters currently disfavor his presidency, reflecting trends consistent across other contemporary national polls.
A detailed breakdown by political affiliation underscores entrenched polarization. Among Republicans, approval remains robust at 87%, while disapproval is minimal at 11%. Conversely, Democrats demonstrate overwhelming disapproval at 90%, with only 8% expressing support. Independent voters present a more tempered yet unfavorable view, with 29% approving and 51% disapproving.
These figures mirror approval patterns observed during a comparable point in President Trump's initial term, where ratings stood at a 44% approval versus 51% disapproval. Notably, the president's approval rating since the commencement of his second term in January has declined from an initial 52%, reflecting a sustained period without regaining a positive net approval.
Beyond numeric approval, voters emphasize specific policy priorities. The Morning Consult poll highlights economic concerns as paramount among the electorate. When asked to identify top priorities, 73% of respondents emphasize the importance of lowering costs, yet only 48% perceive this issue as a leading focus for the president. Similarly, healthcare affordability garners 71% prioritization from voters, while just 48% believe the president is giving it significant attention.
Energy price reductions and deficit management also feature prominently, with 58% and 49% of voters respectively regarding these as key issues. However, voter perception of the president's engagement on these fronts is lower, with 43% and 37% respectively acknowledging his prioritization.
Conversely, areas such as illegal immigration and tariff imposition attract comparatively less emphasis. Only 42% and 21% of respondents, respectively, identify these as crucial concerns, with tariffs ranking last among more than 10 potential focal topics.
Assessing approval on specific policy areas provides additional nuance. The president receives net positive approval ratings regarding immigration, national security, and energy, at 49%, 48%, and 45%, respectively. Nonetheless, none of these categories surpass a 50% approval benchmark, indicating moderate voter support.
Economic management and healthcare emerge as the most contentious issues, with notable disapproval. The economy commands a 50% disapproval rating alongside a 44% approval, while healthcare holds a 51% disapproval against a 40% approval rating. These data points underscore voter dissatisfaction with handling of these critical sectors.
This polling snapshot coincides with a phase of strong stock market performance. In 2025, major indices have reached near-record levels, exemplified by the S&P 500 crossing the 7,000 threshold for the first time. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY), tracking this index, appreciated by 15.7% during the initial year of the president's second term, reflecting significant investor gains.
President Trump has publicly celebrated these market achievements and projected further growth. At the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, he expressed optimism about equity markets, suggesting the potential for the stock market value to double over a "relatively short period of time." Despite this bullish stance, robust market metrics have not translated into higher approval ratings among voters.
Ultimately, while strong market returns may influence some segments of the electorate, polling consistently indicates that issues of affordability and healthcare remain paramount in voter priorities, suggesting a divergence between economic indicators and public approval.