What is President Donald Trump's approval rating? See latest polls – The Arizona Republic
President Donald Trump started May with a dwindling approval rating as he faces mounting political pressure over the war in Iran, as well as widespread protests over workers’ rights.
The first day of May was marked by celebrations of several holidays as well as protests criticizing Trump.
Both May Day and International Workers’ Day are celebrated on May 1, and protests on the date often focus on workers’ rights, celebrate the history of the labor rights movement, and highlight economic inequality. This year, the marches also focused on condemning the Trump administration, saying it has failed to address affordability for Americans and demanding more dignity for workers.
Friday also marked the 60th day since the start of the U.S. war in Iran, which means the president must now seek congressional approval to continue military operations according to the War Powers Resolution of 1973. Trump, facing the end of the deadline, said the measure is “totally unconstitutional” and told lawmakers in a letter that U.S. military hostilities in Iran “have terminated” since he ordered a two-week ceasefire on April 7, thus arguing the law is a moot point even though U.S. forces remain in the region.
In another international development, Trump signed an executive order expanding sanctions on Cuba as he continues to threaten the communist-run nation with military action after ousting Venezuela’s leader from power.
Here’s what to know about Trump’s approval rating, including how they are decided and how Trump’s ratings compare with his first term and past presidents.
Here are the latest approval ratings released about Trump’s administration:
Trump had a final approval rating of 34% when he left office in 2021. His approval average during his first term was 41%.
Data agency Gallup notes that these approval ratings are a “simple measure, yet a very powerful one that has played a key role in politics for over 70 years.”
A president’s approval rating reflects the percentage of Americans polled who approve of the president’s performance. Anything can impact a president’s rating, such as legislation passed, actions and elections.
According to ABC News, an approval rating doesn’t just represent how well the administration is doing for the general public, but could determine the outcome of an upcoming election for a politician or how much they get done during their time in office.
While these ratings are easy to understand, Quorum says some analysts believe they are not as useful as they once were due to extreme partisanship and the polarized political climate.
“Presidential approval ratings have always been partisan, with members of the president’s party offering more positive assessments than those in the opposing party,” according to the Pew Research Center. “But the differences between Republicans and Democrats on views of the president have grown substantially in recent decades.”
USA TODAY Network reporter Maria Francis contributed to this article.
