Trump’s Approval Rivals Obama’s at Same Point in Presidency, Polls Reveal
In a development that is sure to unsettle Democrats, several new polls reveal that President Donald Trump’s approval rating now matches that of Barack Obama during the same stage of his presidency—a powerful sign of Trump’s sustained political strength as he leads the nation through his second term.
According to The Washington Examiner, three recent surveys demonstrate that President Trump is currently outperforming his previous term’s approval numbers. Even more telling, his policies are resonating with Americans at levels that surpass his own personal approval.
“His policies are more popular than he is,” noted Mark Mitchell, a reporter with Rasmussen Reports.
Mark Penn, chief of the Harvard Caps-Harris Poll, echoed that sentiment. “I think he’s got room to grow it,” Penn said, suggesting Trump is on an upward trajectory with voters.
One survey from Big Data Poll pegged the president’s approval at 48 percent, while his favorability rating stands at 51 percent. While slightly lower than the record 55 percent approval rating seen at the beginning of his second term, the numbers point to a strong position—especially given persistent economic concerns.
“If these economic concerns turn out to be unjustified, we should all expect the president’s numbers to rebound, perhaps sharply,” said Rich Baris, director of the Big Data Poll.
Mitchell, commenting on the polling landscape, criticized legacy pollsters in a post on X: “These MSM pollsters definitely dumped extra-hostile polls last week > Even before that they were about 3–7 points left of us > We put out more polls BY FAR than all of those names > Look at that cluster at the end there – Definitely an op!”
Penn, speaking to Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo on Mornings with Maria, emphasized that President Trump’s policies are scoring well with voters—regardless of partisan leanings.
“If I say, ‘Do you approve of what the president is doing on immigration,’ 51% say ‘Yes.’ But when I say, ‘Do you favor or oppose some of the policies that he’s implementing,’ close to 70% say ‘Yes,’” he explained.
“So when his name is in there, I get a more partisan response. To me, that indicates that if he’s successful with his policies, he can chip away at that partisanship and get from 50 to 55, or 60, which is where you want to get to,” Penn added.
In April, President Trump’s approval surged to near-record highs—despite a coordinated wave of outrage from Democrats, establishment Republicans, and the corporate media in response to his bold new trade measures.
A poll conducted by J.L. Partners for the Daily Mail surveyed 1,000 registered voters between March 31 and April 3. The results showed a significant jump in Trump’s approval, even after he implemented sweeping tariffs on April 2. The president’s approval rating rose to 53 percent, up from 49 percent the week before. The Daily Mail called the increase “surprising,” given the political backlash and stock market volatility that week.
More significantly, Trump made notable gains with younger voters. His favorability among 18- to 29-year-olds shot up 13 points compared to a March 7 poll. This group—once a stronghold for Biden—had already swung 10 points toward Trump in the last presidential election.
The president also saw a six-point increase in approval among registered Democrats and independents. His favorability among black voters surged by an impressive 17 points, underscoring a growing trend of support from constituencies once considered out of reach for Republicans.
TaChelle Lawson, founder of FIG Strategy & Consulting and a contributor to the Freedom Economy Index, told Fox News Digital, “I would give President Trump, right now, a pretty solid B+.”
“He came in with a very clear plan, and that was focusing on economics. He’s definitely putting business first, trimming the fat. That’s something that small business owners, business operators understand and respect,” Lawson said. “I do, however, think that the messaging could use a little bit of work.”
As President Trump continues to deliver results on the economy, border security, and trade, these numbers suggest Americans are taking notice—and that his second term may ultimately surpass the first in both substance and support.