Recent polling suggests that public opinion of the U.S. president has shifted sharply during the first year of his second term in office.
Now 79, Donald Trump returned to the White House just over a year ago after defeating Kamala Harris in a fiercely contested and highly controversial 2024 election. Backed by more than 80 million votes, Trump re-entered 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in early 2025 pledging to revive the economy, end overseas conflicts, and crack down on illegal immigration.
Instead, his first year back in power has been marked by rising tensions with NATO allies, persistent inflation, and—most controversially—the deaths of American citizens during encounters with immigration enforcement officers.
Public anger grows after second ICE killing in Minnesota
Outrage intensified following the killing of Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti, who was shot by ICE agents over the weekend while recording an altercation between officers and local residents. Pretti, 37, was legally carrying a firearm but had not drawn or threatened anyone, as video footage later confirmed.
After one agent confiscated his weapon, another officer fired multiple shots, killing him in the street. The incident came shortly after the death of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother who was also shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, further inflaming tensions nationwide.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) again claimed agents acted in self-defense, but protests have spread as more Americans question enforcement tactics that have resulted in civilian deaths. Even some Republicans have demanded answers, including Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas and Senators Thom Tillis, Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski.
While Good was labeled a “domestic terrorist” by White House officials such as Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin described Pretti—who worked with military veterans at the Minneapolis VA—as someone who intended to inflict “maximum damage” on law enforcement.
Foreign policy and rhetoric fuel political backlash
As protests over ICE intensify, Trump is also facing criticism over foreign policy. His comments about Greenland—including suggestions of potential military action to seize the Denmark-owned territory—have angered NATO allies and unsettled many Americans.
Additional controversy followed the reported abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and threats of military action against Iran, Mexico, and Colombia. These moves have raised fears of new wars, potentially costing American lives and hundreds of billions in taxpayer dollars.
Trump’s tariff threats against NATO partners were widely condemned at home and abroad, narrowly avoiding a trade war. With U.S. midterm elections scheduled for November, Republicans worry the president’s actions could jeopardize their chances of retaining control of Congress.
Adding to the tension, Trump has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of elections, continued to falsely claim the 2020 vote was “stolen” from Joe Biden, and has even floated the idea of a third presidential term—something barred by the Constitution. His remarks about possibly not holding midterms sparked outrage among Democrats, though supporters insist he was joking or speaking rhetorically.
Voters still waiting on economic relief
Lowering the cost of living was a central promise of Trump’s 2024 campaign. Yet after a year in office, prices remain high, and many Americans continue to rely on food banks or work multiple jobs to survive.
Despite Trump’s claims that grocery prices are falling and tariffs will make goods cheaper, voters say they have not felt meaningful relief. While illegal border crossings may be down, reports of U.S. citizens being detained, deported, or killed have intensified criticism of immigration enforcement. Even some Trump voters say they oppose targeting non-criminal immigrants, and stories of people deported to unfamiliar countries have damaged ICE’s public image.
Polls show deep dissatisfaction
So where does public opinion stand?
A January AP-NORC poll found that only four in ten U.S. adults approve of Trump’s performance so far in his second term. As of January 8, 2026, 59% disapproved, while 40% expressed approval.
Economic confidence is even weaker: just 37% approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, with 62% disapproving. Approval for immigration policy stands at 38%, and only 37% support his approach to foreign policy and trade.
A separate New York Times/Siena College poll revealed that nearly half of voters believe they are worse off than they were four years ago, and 64% say Trump has mishandled the cost of living.
Trump has dismissed these surveys as fake and accused pollsters of spreading misinformation on his platform, Truth Social.
An unsettled nation ahead of midterms
With his core campaign promises now polling poorly, the data underscores how divided—and fatigued—the American public feels. Trump’s approval ratings also collapsed during his first term, culminating in his 2020 defeat.
Yet despite that loss and his role in the January 6 insurrection, Trump returned to reclaim the Oval Office. His second term has proven even more turbulent than his first, with widespread protests, political unrest, and violent incidents defining his opening year.
As 2026 begins and the midterms loom just ten months away, many Americans appear exhausted by an unrelenting cycle of war threats, tariffs, and domestic unrest. Whether the polls are accurate or not, Republicans are hoping the president can stabilize his administration before voters head to the polls in November.
