Most Americans Disapprove Of Trump’s Handling Of Key Issues, Poll Finds

A new national poll shows most Americans disapprove of how President Donald Trump is handling the country’s biggest challenges, including inflation, tariffs, foreign relations, immigration and the economy.

The survey, conducted by ABC News, The Washington Post and Ipsos from Feb. 12-17, comes just days before Trump’s State of the Union address. It also comes amid growing debate about his leadership as the 2026 election season intensifies.

Majorities Disapprove on Economy and Inflation

About 65% of Americans say they disapprove of how Trump is handling inflation. Nearly as many disapprove of his approach to tariffs on imported goods (64%) and relations with other countries (62%).

On immigration, 58% disapprove, while 57% disapprove of how he is managing the overall economy.

The only issue where Trump’s numbers are closer is the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border. There, 50% disapprove and 47% approve, his strongest rating in the poll, though still slightly negative.

Overall Approval Remains Low

Trump’s overall disapproval rating stands at 60%, matching the level recorded when he left office at the end of his first term in January 2021. His approval rating is 39%.

Despite these numbers, Democrats in Congress are not viewed as a clear alternative. When asked who they trust more to handle the country’s main problems, 33% chose Trump, 31% chose Democrats and 31% said neither.

Last year, Trump held a 7-point advantage over Democrats on that question.

On immigration, Americans prefer Trump over Democrats by 4 points. On reducing the cost of living, voters are roughly split.

Deep Partisan Divide

Republicans remain divided within their own ranks. Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, 54% identify as supporters of the MAGA movement, while 42% do not.

MAGA Republicans largely approve of Trump’s handling of all major issues measured in the poll. Non-MAGA Republicans are more critical. Majorities of non-MAGA Republicans disapprove of Trump’s handling of inflation, tariffs and foreign relations, though most approve of his approach to the border and immigration.

Economic Views Slightly Improve, But Remain Negative

Nearly half of Americans (48%) say the economy has worsened since Trump returned to office in 2025. That figure is slightly lower than in October, when 52% said the same.

Only 29% now say the economy has improved, up from 27% last fall.

Just 22% say they are better off financially than when Trump took office again. A majority say their finances are either about the same (44%) or worse (33%).

Record Concerns About Physical Health

A record 51% of Americans say Trump does not have good enough physical health to serve effectively as president. That is the highest level recorded in ABC/Post/Ipsos polling dating back to 2023.

Concerns about his mental sharpness are also rising. Fifty-six percent say he lacks the mental clarity needed to serve, the highest share since 2020.

Republicans largely reject those concerns. Most MAGA Republicans say Trump is mentally sharp and physically fit for office, while majorities of Democrats and independents disagree.

Honesty and Trust Issues

Seven in 10 Americans say Trump is not honest and trustworthy, tying a previous high recorded in January 2024.

Among Democrats, 96% say Trump is not honest. Eighty percent of independents agree, as do 74% of non-MAGA Republicans. In contrast, more than 8 in 10 MAGA Republicans say he is honest.

Americans are split on whether Trump is a strong leader: 48% say he is, while 51% say he is not.

Majority Say He Has Gone Too Far

About 65% say Trump has gone beyond his authority as president.

A growing share, 62% say he is using the presidency to enrich himself, up from 56% last September.

More than half (56%) say the administration is not committed to protecting Americans’ rights and freedoms.

Opposition to Military Force and Vaccine Changes

On foreign policy, 54% oppose Trump using the U.S. military to force changes in other countries. Only 20% support that approach.

Republicans are divided. Most MAGA Republicans support using military force, while non-MAGA Republicans are split, with many expressing no opinion.

On public health, 53% oppose the administration’s decision to reduce the number of recommended childhood vaccines. Only 21% support the move.

Democrats overwhelmingly oppose it. Republicans are split, with strong backing among MAGA supporters.

Epstein File Transparency Questioned

As new documents continue to emerge from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, 56% of Americans say the administration has not been transparent in its release of information. Just 26% say it has been transparent.

Among MAGA Republicans, 69% say the administration has been transparent. Most Democrats and independents disagree.

Methodology

The ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll was conducted online using Ipsos’ probability-based KnowledgePanel from Feb. 12-17, 2026. It surveyed 2,589 U.S. adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

The findings reflect a politically divided nation, with broad dissatisfaction toward the president on major issues but no clear shift toward Democrats as an alternative.