By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The latest Gallup poll reveals that former President Donald Trump’s job approval rating has reached a joint-worst of 36 percent at the end of his first year back in office, matching his own score from the end of his first term. This decline follows a high of 50 percent at the start of his second term, with Silver Bulletin’s data showing a steady downturn beginning in June, resulting in negative ratings across key performance areas like immigration, trade, the economy, and inflation. Despite strong support from Republicans, independent voters’ approval of Trump has nearly halved, indicating potential challenges for the GOP in the upcoming midterm elections, further evidenced by a Quinnipiac University poll showing a majority of voters believe Trump has overstepped his authority.
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Only one recent president has scored an approval rating as bad as Trump’s – himself – President Donald Trump ends his first year back in power with an approval rating of just 36 percent, according to Gallup. Well, let’s just sit with that for a moment, shall we? A mere 36% approval rating. That’s a shockingly low number for a president, especially after just one year back in the Oval Office. It immediately makes you wonder, what exactly is going on?
That 36% approval rating also means about one in three people are, at least according to this data, okay with what’s happening. The gravity of that fact really settles in when you consider the scope of a president’s influence, the policies enacted, and the impact on daily life. To be clear, it also bears repeating that Trump appears to be the first president to start their term below 50% in approval. This is new territory, and not in a good way.
Now, while it’s tempting to focus solely on the negative, the fact that a large portion of the population still backs him is noteworthy. Even with those low numbers, it’s clear his support base remains surprisingly resilient. These are people who, despite everything, seem to be standing by his side. It’s a reminder of the deep divisions within the country and the potent emotional connection some people have with Trump.
This all points to a larger problem of deep and often irreconcilable political divides. The idea that a significant portion of the population would still support a president with such a low approval rating highlights the complexity and fragmentation of the current political landscape. It raises questions about the electorate, the media, and the political system as a whole.
And then there’s the question of the voters. Even if people don’t approve of Trump, it’s a real possibility they will still vote Republican. This suggests that party affiliation, ideological alignment, or something else is far more significant than the president’s individual performance. It underscores the challenges of trying to appeal across the aisle in such a polarized environment.
It also raises the question of what 36% of the population see in him. Are they simply committed to the conservative cause and unwilling to abandon their principles? Or, is it something more? Is it, as some have said, a sign of their own beliefs and values?
And, with the numbers being what they are, it is easy to assume that the people who vote for Trump do so out of a belief of him solving certain problems and delivering on certain promises. It’s depressing, but perhaps not entirely unexpected.
Now, let’s consider this: President George W. Bush left office with a 25% approval rating. Yet, even with these low numbers, his party still secured a significant portion of the vote in the subsequent election. This should make us think again. People aren’t necessarily voting *for* a candidate as much as they are voting *against* the other.
The other point of consideration is that a lot of people may not believe the poll numbers. This is an important question. People who don’t trust the results are unlikely to adjust their beliefs or opinions based on them. It’s hard to build a shared understanding of reality when these fundamental building blocks of information are viewed as suspect.
It’s also easy to fall into the trap of incredulity when looking at these numbers. How could anyone vote for this person again? It is a fair question, but it doesn’t address the broader problems. Rather than focusing on this specific outcome, we need to focus on the underlying issues. The fact that Trump was re-elected—even with these low numbers—is not just a symptom of a problem but is a problem in itself.
A major concern is that he might be able to finish his full term. The idea of this is almost unbearable to some. It is the type of situation that leaves you with nothing but questions.
It’s a fact that there are people out there who are seemingly comfortable with the situation. We’ve seen this before. It doesn’t mean those people are bad, it just means they don’t share the same values. It underscores the need for civil discourse and understanding, even when disagreements run deep.
This discussion also brings up the issue of the media’s role in shaping these opinions. What is being reported? What is being shown? What is the impact? The media can influence public opinion in powerful ways. Whether the media is seen as credible can shape public perceptions of politicians and events, influencing approval ratings and future elections.
And finally, how reliable are the poll numbers? What are the methodologies used? How are the samples collected? Public opinion polls are supposed to reflect the sentiments of the population, but they can be affected by a variety of factors. It’s important to approach these numbers with a critical eye, recognizing that they may not be perfect. The fact that the poll is as low as it is after only a year suggests that it could easily go lower.