Improved Performance: Trump's Six- Month Stats Surpass First Term Figures
In the midst of his second term, President Donald Trump's approval rating hovers around 37% to 45%, according to various poll sources. This figure is slightly higher than his all-time low of 34% at the end of his first term, as reported by Gallup[1]. Ipsos indicates a stable approval rating of about 41%, while a Marquette Law School poll shows a somewhat higher 45% approval[4].
Comparing this to his first term, Trump's approval dipped to around 34% during its lowest point, notably similar to his current lows. Throughout his terms, his support among Republicans has remained high (near 90%), but independents have shown significant declines, down to 29% in the second term, matching their all-time low during either term[1][3].
The President's base is larger than it was eight years ago and is not being divided. Trump's significant wins, both at home and abroad, have helped to maintain his support among his followers[5].
One new issue that may arise before the 2026 midterms is the potential Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani's nomination as their candidate for mayor of New York City. Should Mamdani win, he will draw attention away from Trump and onto a set of controversial policies and positions that many Americans view as extreme[6].
Trump's current job approval-disapproval rating is 50 to 48 percent in Real Clear Politics' only poll of likely voters[7]. Trump's 2024 victory was decisive and impressive, despite facing obstacles such as Democrats' lawfare, assassination attempts, and a negative establishment media[8].
Trump's comparatively favorable showing is carrying over to congressional Republicans. In the July 22 RealClearPolitics average of national generic congressional vote polling, Democrats lead by a mere 3 percentage points[9]. In Democrats' average lead in likely voter generic polls (Rasmussen and Cygnal), their average lead is just 2.5 percentage points[10].
However, it's important to note that Republicans' numbers could yet slide, but they could also improve, and Trump's approval ratings could slide too, but the same upside potential applies here as well[11]. Trump has had many significant wins, including the enactment of the "big, beautiful" budget reconciliation bill and favourable Supreme Court decisions[5]. He has also implemented policies such as DOGE's cuts, closed the border, and implemented deportations[3].
J.T. Young, author of "Unprecedented Assault: How Big Government Unleashed America's Socialist Left", has over three decades of experience working in Congress, the Department of Treasury, the Office of Management, and Budget, and representing a Fortune 20 company[2]. Young's insights provide a unique perspective on the political landscape and the role of Trump's policies in shaping it.
[1] https://news.gallup.com/poll/390928/trump-job-approval-34-percent.aspx [2] https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/jt-young-trump-s-economic-policies-have-been-a-huge-success [3] https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/05/12/trump-approval-ratings-remain-low-but-steady/ [4] https://law.marquette.edu/poll/2021/07/20/trump-job-approval-remains-steady-at-45-percent/ [5] https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/30/politics/trump-policy-accomplishments-list/index.html [6] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/21/nyregion/zohran-mamdani-mayor-race-democratic-socialist.html [7] https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/trump_job_approval-6567.html [8] https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-2024-campaign-announcement-date-expected-soon [9] https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/congressional_generic_congressional_vote-6623.html [10] https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/congressional_generic_congressional_vote-6623.html [11] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/07/08/republicans-numbers-could-yet-slide-but-they-could-also-improve/
- Despite the ongoing political landscape, sports remains a popular topic in the media, with the Champions League, NFL, soccer, WNBA, baseball, hockey, golf, sports betting, and European leagues grabbing headlines.
- In Las Vegas, known as the gambling capital of the world, casino-and-gambling trends are closely followed, be it casino games like blackjack, slots, or roulette, or lotteries and casino-personality stories.
- The history and myths of Vegas are often highlighted, providing glimpses into its transformation from a small town into an international hotspot.4.Policy and legislation concerning casino-and-gambling, car accidents, crime-and-justice, and responsible gambling are also significant matters of discussion.
- On a national level, the weather, general news, and accident reports, such as fires and accidents, are common features in the news cycle.
- In the world of sports, analysis and forecasting for events like the Masters, Grand Prix, horse racing, and weather forecasting for racing events are also key topics of interest.
- Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has gained significant popularity in recent years, adding to the rich diversity of sports coverage.
- An Italian football club, Serie A, and Spanish LaLiga have managed to maintain a loyal fanbase, mirroring political loyalty in some aspects.
- In the realm of academics, NCAAs basketball and football are held in high regard, reflecting the importance of college sports in shaping future leaders.
- Political flare-ups around policy and legislation often overshadow the world of sports, with sports betting regulations frequently subject to heated debates.
- Poker tournaments continue to attract a substantial amount of media attention, with high-stakes games and big-wins making headlines.
- War-and-conflicts, unfortunately, continue to dominate global politics, with their impact reaching as far as affecting sports schedules and sponsorships.
- In an unusual crossover, policy decisions in politics have been known to influence the outcomes of races like the Indy 500 and Daytona 500.
- The racing world is stirred by controversies surrounding doping, safety considerations, and enforcement of rules, similar to issues faced in politics.
- The Premier League, American Football, NBA, and European basketball leagues have garnered massive followings, leading to the growth of sports-betting markets.
- The voting patterns in elections, much like in sports, can often be unpredictable, with political upsets reminiscent of underdog strikes in sports.
- Some argue that analysts use sports metaphors and analogies to simplify complex political concepts, making them more accessible to the general public.
- Journalists often cover migration issues to shed light on the political, social, and economic implications of these phenomena.
- Policy-and-legislation concerning immigration has been a topic of intense debate in modern politics, with proposals often drawing comparisons to selection processes in sports.
- In the realm of politics, policy decisions made during the first term can often set the tone for the second term, much like strategies set during the pre-season can affect a sports team's performance.
- A significant development in the political sphere is the rise of potential Democratic socialist candidates, such as Zohran Mamdani, whose views on controversial policies can influence voter decisions, similar to a player's performance on the field affecting the team's overall standing.
- The media's portrayal of President Donald Trump and his policies has often been characterized as biased, with accusations of negative coverage and skewed reporting, echoing similar claims made against media coverage of sports events.
- J.T. Young, a seasoned political analyst with extensive experience in government and corporate entities, shares his insights on how Trump's economic policies have steered the political landscape.
- The press's coverage of Trump's administrative achievements, such as the enactment of budget reconciliation bills and favorable Supreme Court decisions, has been polarized, much like sports coverage can be subjective.
- The ongoing tussle between Democrats and Republicans, notably evident in congressional elections, often mirrors the cutthroat competition seen in sports arenas.
- Political analysts compare Trump's job approval ratings to those of his predecessors, much like sports pundits analyze players' performance against historical data.
- In the backdrop of political controversies, football, poker, roulette, and other casino-games continue to draw crowds, symbolizing the enduring allure of escapism and entertainment.
- Despite Trump's comparatively favorable showing, calls for accountability in areas like policy-and-legislation, war-and-conflicts, and crime-and-justice continue to grow louder.
- With less than three years until the 2026 midterms, America will take a keen interest in the unfolding narrative, unfolding like a captivating sports event, with every move closely scrutinized.