New Poll Shows Trump Approval at Just 36% as Public Doubts Grow on Immigration

President Donald Trump’s job approval hovers around 36%, a new AP-NORC poll indicates, as public divisions over his immigration crackdown intensify.

That rating underscores a continued struggle to win broad public confidence more than a year into his second term, even as Republicans rally around his leadership. Discontent among independents and Democrats is a growing political headache with key elections looming.

According to the poll, a majority of Americans — especially independents — say Trump has “gone too far” deploying federal immigration agents into U.S. cities, signaling backlash to tough enforcement measures.

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Social media on Friday shared additional toplines suggesting only about 34% of Americans say the economy is good, 29% think the country is heading in the right direction, and that Vice President J.D. Vance’s approval may be around 32% — but those figures haven’t yet been confirmed by an official AP-NORC release.

“Public sentiment shows people are wrestling with the direction of the country,” said a political analyst familiar with polling trends.

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The poll’s numbers matter because they reflect broad unease on core issues like immigration and economic optimism, potentially reshaping GOP messaging going into the 2026 midterms. Voters’ pessimism could influence turnout and candidate positioning in battleground districts.

As more detailed results are expected from AP-NORC in coming days, campaigns on both sides will likely dig into subgroup shifts and priorities.

Poll watchers will be watching whether these early toplines hold in full release. Next up: AP-NORC’s detailed issue breakdown and demographic splits.

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