Recent findings from the Pew Research Center indicate a notable decline in President Donald Trump’s approval ratings and perceptions of his personal attributes, reflecting changes in public confidence across various issues since his second term began.
The Pew Research Center released a detailed analysis of American attitudes towards President Donald Trump, revealing a steady decline in his approval ratings and perceived personal qualities. Conducted among 5,103 U.S. adults from April 20 to April 26, 2026, the survey highlights a significant drop in Trump’s job approval, currently sitting at 34%, marking the lowest point of his second term.
Decline in Perceived Attributes
Among the various personal attributes assessed, one of the most striking changes is in the public’s perception of Trump’s reliability in keeping promises. Only 38% of respondents now believe that Trump “keeps his promises” well, a decrease from 43% in August 2025, and significantly lower than the 51% who felt this way shortly after his reelection in November 2024. Additionally, perceptions of Trump as “mentally sharp” have also declined, with 44% of participants expressing confidence in this attribute, down from 48% last summer.
Despite these declines, a majority of Americans, approximately 64%, still feel that Trump stands up for his convictions, although this figure has also dipped from 68% since last summer. The survey indicates that confidence in Trump’s ability to make sound decisions on vital issues has decreased markedly, with only 41% of respondents expressing optimism about his immigration policy decisions, down from 46% in August and 53% after his reelection.
Public Confidence on Key Issues
In addition to immigration, public confidence in Trump’s military decision-making has also seen a decline; only 38% believe he would use military force wisely, compared to 46% last summer. Confidence in Trump’s economic policy decisions has remained relatively stable, with 42% expressing confidence today, a slight decrease from 44% in August. This context is particularly relevant as economic issues have traditionally been viewed as among Trump’s strengths.
Impact on Republican Support
The decline in Trump’s approval ratings appears to be affecting both Republican and Democratic respondents, although Republicans still maintain generally positive views of the president. Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, 68% currently approve of Trump’s job performance, a decrease from 73% in January. When it comes to the perception of Trump as someone who keeps his promises, 70% of Republicans agree this describes him well, down from 76% a year ago and 14 percentage points from November 2024.
Moreover, confidence in Trump’s military decision-making is at 72%, a decrease of 11 points from last year. Notably, while Republican support remains robust, it has shown signs of weakening, particularly among younger voters. For example, only 57% of Trump voters under 35 currently approve of his performance, a stark contrast to 87% of his voters aged 50 and older. Similarly, 66% of Hispanic Trump voters approve of his presidency, reflecting a 27-point decline since early 2025, compared to a 14-point drop among White Trump voters.
Democratic Disapproval Remains Steady
In contrast, disapproval among Democrats remains nearly unanimous, with only 5% of Democratic respondents approving of Trump’s job performance. This consistent disapproval highlights the polarized nature of American political sentiment toward Trump, which has persisted since the start of his presidency.
Perceptions of Ethics and Honesty
In addition to approval ratings, public perceptions regarding the ethics and honesty within the federal government have also shifted. A majority of Americans, 56%, believe that the overall level of ethics and honesty in the federal government has declined during Trump’s term, while only 19% feel it has improved. This sentiment reflects a significant change from the early days of Trump’s administration when many Republicans anticipated an increase in government ethics under his leadership.
Today, 37% of Republicans believe the level of ethics has risen, down from 59% shortly after Trump took office. Conversely, 88% of Democrats assert that ethics and honesty have worsened over Trump’s presidency, a view that has remained largely unchanged since 2025.
Views on Naming Government Buildings
Public opinion on the appropriateness of naming government buildings after Trump has also revealed significant skepticism. According to the survey, 50% of Americans believe that naming government buildings after Trump would not be acceptable. Only 9% think it would be acceptable during his presidency, while 21% would consider it acceptable only after his term ends.
Among Republicans, 17% support naming buildings after Trump while he is in office, whereas 33% favor this idea post-presidency. In stark contrast, 77% of Democrats disapprove of naming government buildings after Trump at any point, indicating a pronounced partisan divide on this issue.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, these findings from the Pew Research Center shed light on the changing perceptions of President Trump’s leadership and the implications for his future political prospects.
