Pre–State of the Union Polls Show Trump’s Approval in Low-40s as Americans Say Economy, Affordability Still Off Track
Pre–State of the Union polls show Trump’s job approval averaging in the low 40s with disapproval in the mid‑50s — for example, a Fox News poll at 44% approval and an ABC/Washington Post/Ipsos at 39% — while an NPR/PBS/Marist survey finds 60% say the U.S. is worse off since he took office. Voters express broad pessimism about the economy and affordability, a growing majority say checks and balances aren’t working, and 55% say Trump is changing the country for the worse, sentiments sharpened by controversies such as his push for global tariffs and criticisms of the Supreme Court.
📌 Key Facts
- Recent national polls show Donald Trump’s job approval in the low 40s with disapproval in the mid‑50s (examples: Fox News late‑January poll 44/56; ABC/Washington Post/Ipsos Feb. 12–17 found 39% approval among all adults and 41% among registered voters).
- About 55% of Americans say Trump’s direction for the country is a change for the worse — the highest “worse” reading recorded in this poll series across both of his terms.
- A joint NPR/PBS/Marist survey finds 60% of respondents say the U.S. is worse off than it was right after Trump took office.
- Confidence in the system of checks and balances has fallen sharply: roughly two‑thirds now say it is not working well (up 12 points from a year ago and double the share from December 2024), with confidence down 45 points among Democrats, 34 points among independents and 19 points among Republicans since December 2024.
- Pollsters and analysts note partisan sorting: GOP support for Trump has largely held, Democratic opposition has “calcified,” and independents largely disapprove.
- Voters are pessimistic about the economy and affordability; Trump’s economic approval averages slightly below his overall approval, and multiple polls show many voters unconvinced that conditions have improved in his second term.
- Coverage links these attitudes to recent events and timing: PBS connects declining confidence in checks and balances to Trump’s reaction to the Supreme Court’s 6–3 decision striking down his global tariffs (including his vow to seek another legal route and his attacks on justices), while NPR frames the poll results as the backdrop to the upcoming State of the Union and the 2026 campaign.
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
February 24, 2026
12:00 PM
Where Trump stands in the eyes of Americans ahead of the State of the Union address
New information:
- Fox News national poll conducted in late January shows Trump’s job approval at 44% and disapproval at 56%.
- An ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll conducted Feb. 12–17 finds Trump at 39% approval among all adults and 41% among registered voters.
- Averaging recent surveys, Trump’s approval is in the low 40s with disapproval in the mid‑50s, after starting his second term above water and slipping below 50% last March.
- Pollster Daron Shaw notes that GOP support has held but Democratic opposition has 'calcified'; independents largely disapprove.
- The article reports that Trump’s economic approval is, on average, slightly worse than his overall rating, with multiple polls showing voters pessimistic about affordability and unconvinced things have improved in his second term.
February 23, 2026
12:30 PM
Trump to raise global tariffs. And, most say the state of the union is weak, poll says
New information:
- The latest NPR/PBS News/Marist survey now finds 60% of respondents say the U.S. is worse off than right after Trump took office.
- The poll shows 55% of Americans say Trump’s direction for the country is a change for the worse, which NPR notes is his highest disapproval reading in this series across both terms.
- NPR explicitly ties these numbers to the immediate run‑up to the 2026 State of the Union, framing them as the backdrop for Trump’s address and the midterm campaign that follows.
10:00 AM
Checks and balances aren't working under Trump, growing majority says
New information:
- Roughly two‑thirds of Americans now say the system of checks and balances between the White House, Congress and the courts is not working well, up 12 points from a year ago and double the share in December 2024.
- Confidence in checks and balances has dropped across parties: Democrats and independents are down 45 and 34 points respectively since December 2024, and even Republicans have seen a 19‑point decline.
- The share of Americans who say Trump is changing the country for the worse has risen to 55%, versus 37% who say for the better and 8% who see no real change, the highest 'worse' reading of either Trump term.
- The article explicitly connects these attitudes to Trump’s public reaction to the Supreme Court’s 6–3 decision striking down his sweeping global tariffs, including his vow to find another legal route to impose them and his attack on justices as a 'disgrace.'