A recent CNN poll conducted by SSRS reveals a significant shift in the American public’s perception of Donald Trump’s presidency as he prepares for his first formal address to Congress since returning to office. The survey indicates a more negative view of Trump’s leadership and the direction of the country compared to positive sentiments.
The poll shows that a majority of Americans disapprove of Trump’s performance in office, with 52% expressing disapproval and 48% approval. This sentiment remains consistent with a previous poll in mid-February. Notably, the survey was conducted before the recent tense exchange between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, so it does not reflect public opinion on that incident.
While Trump maintains strong support among Republicans (90% approval), he faces widespread disapproval among Democrats (90% disapproval) and independents (59% disapproval). The president’s overall approval rating ahead of his upcoming address is slightly higher than it was before his first speech to Congress in 2017. However, a significant portion of Americans view Trump’s policy proposals with skepticism, as more believe they are leading the country in the wrong direction (45%) rather than the right one (39%).
Furthermore, a majority of Americans feel that Trump has not adequately addressed the country’s most pressing issues (52% hold this view), with only 40% believing he has the right priorities. Even among those who support Trump on other measures, there are doubts about his focus on important issues. Demographically, Trump continues to face low approval ratings among younger adults, Hispanic and Black populations, and women, while receiving higher support from White individuals without college degrees.
Overall, the public’s perception of Trump’s upcoming address and his performance in office reflects a significant divide between approval and disapproval, highlighting the challenges he faces in uniting the nation behind his policies.
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Attempting to address public sentiment towards President Trump, recent data shows a divergence in opinions across age groups and ethnicities. Among individuals aged 18 to 34, a significant 51% express dissatisfaction with the current direction, in contrast to 31% who support his approach. Furthermore, within this cohort, 61% believe that Trump has failed to adequately address the country’s most critical issues. The sentiments are equally pronounced among Black and Hispanic adults, with only 14% and 31% respectively backing Trump’s policies, while a substantial majority in each group, 69% of Black adults and 64% of Hispanics, criticize the administration’s focus. Independents also exhibit a negative stance, with a notable 20% more inclined to perceive Trump as leading the country astray rather than towards progress.
While the disapproval is evident, there remains a degree of uncertainty amongst certain demographics. Approximately one-quarter of independents, along with 21% of Americans of color and 18% of individuals under 45, have yet to form a decisive opinion regarding the impact of Trump’s proposed policies on the nation. The CNN Poll, carried out by SSRS between February 24-28, sampled 2,212 adults through a probability-based panel. The survey methodology involved both online and telephone interviews with live interviewers. The results across the entire sample carry a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points.
This report draws on the contributions of CNN’s Ariel Edwards-Levy and Edward Wu. To stay updated with more CNN news and newsletters, consider creating an account on CNN.com.
