Three months into his second term, President Donald Trump has reached the highest approval rating of his political career—while more Americans believe the country is on the right track than at any point since 2004, according to a new NBC News poll.
The survey revealed 47% of voters approve of Trump’s leadership, marking a personal best in NBC’s polling. While 51% still disapprove, this is the closest he has ever come to breaking even. In comparison, his approval at this point in his first term was just 44%, and he is now polling higher than President Biden was at this stage (53%).
Perhaps even more stunning, 44% of Americans now say the U.S. is headed in the right direction—the most optimistic outlook in two decades. That’s a dramatic shift from just six months ago, when only 28% believed the country was on the right path.
Trump’s Policies Reshaping Public Opinion
While Trump’s aggressive economic stance has stirred controversy—especially after slapping major tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China—his policies are gaining support. More Americans now approve of his trade policies (41%) than oppose them (38%), despite Wall Street’s reaction to his latest moves.
His border policies remain his strongest point, with 56% of Americans backing his crackdown. Even his handling of the Ukraine war and NATO, two areas where critics have been vocal, has found more approval (41% and 40%) than disapproval.
On inflation, a persistent concern for Americans, 40% say Trump’s policies are helping compared to 30% who say they’re making things worse.
A Nation Divided—But With a Clear Trend
Trump remains a deeply polarizing figure. His approval among Republicans is a sky-high 90%, while just 4% of Democrats support him—the largest party gap seen in 80 years of presidential polling.
At the same time, Democrats are facing their worst public perception in history. Just 27% of Americans view the Democratic Party favorably, while a crushing 55% see it negatively—marking their lowest favorability rating ever recorded in NBC’s polling.
Meanwhile, skepticism of the media remains high, with 46% of voters believing Trump is being treated unfairly by news outlets.
The Biggest Gamble Yet: Trump’s DOGE Initiative
One of the most controversial moves of Trump’s second term has been the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a cost-cutting agency designed to streamline federal operations. While 47% of Americans disapprove, 41% support it, and nearly half (46%) believe it was the right move.
Trump has doubled down on his commitment to DOGE, even backing Elon Musk’s involvement in government restructuring efforts despite fierce resistance from federal employees and Democrats.
As the 2025 political landscape takes shape, Trump’s numbers indicate a growing shift in public sentiment. With approval ratings climbing and optimism at a two-decade high, America may be warming up to Trump’s vision—even if his critics refuse to admit it.
