Poll finds 60 percent of Americans 'strongly disapprove' of Trump ahead of State of the Union
WASHINGTON, DC: As President Donald Trump prepares to deliver his State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 24, public sentiment remains largely negative toward his performance in office.
A recent Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll shows that majorities disapprove of his handling of key initiatives and believe he has overstepped his presidential authority. The poll, conducted from February 12 to 17, surveyed 2,589 people and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
Public opinion on Trump’s performance and authority
The poll reveals that 60% of Americans “disapprove strongly” or “disapprove somewhat” of the way Trump is handling his job as president. Only 39% approve either strongly or somewhat, with 1% declining to answer.
Democrats see opportunities in Trump’s low approval ratings ahead of the midterm elections, but they have struggled to convince Americans that their policies are better or that they are more in touch with the average citizen’s concerns.
When asked who they trust to handle major issues, 33% of Americans chose Trump, 31% chose Democrats, and 4% said both equally. A decline from Trump’s April 2025 lead of 37% compared with Democrats’ 30%.
Trump has issued more executive orders in the first year of his second term than any recent president, yet 65% of Americans say he has exceeded his authority in exercising presidential powers, up from 57% early in his term.
Other aspects of his leadership have also drawn criticism, 56% believe he is not committed to protecting Americans’ rights and freedoms, 62% feel he is using the presidency to enrich himself, and 56% say his administration has not been transparent in releasing files from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
Trump's military actions, tariffs, and political challenges
Public sentiment is also wary of Trump’s foreign policy and military actions. Following earlier threats to take over Greenland and weeks after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, 54% oppose Trump using the military to force changes in other countries, 20% support him, and 26% express no opinion.
These figures also provide insight into public reactions as Trump considers possible military action against Iran. Economically, Trump has faced setbacks with his second-term tariff policy, which strained relationships with allies including Canada and the European Union, unsettled global markets, and increased economic uncertainty.
A recent Supreme Court ruling struck down most of Trump’s expansive tariffs, a significant blow to his economic strategy.
In his post, Trump slammed the ruling, “the supreme court (will be using lower case letters for a while based on a complete lack of respect!) of the United States accidentally and unwittingly gave me, as President of the United States, far more powers and strength than I had prior to their ridiculous, dumb, and very internationally divisive ruling.”
In a polling average from Decision Desk HQ, Trump’s approval rating stands at 43.1%, with a disapproval rating of 54.5%. Congressional Democrats are planning counterprogramming events near the US Capitol during Trump’s address, highlighting the ongoing partisan divide over the administration’s policies.
