Trump approval rating hits 45% as majority say he has exceeded authority: Poll

WASHINGTON

The majority of Americans disapprove of US President Donald Trump's performance during his first month in office with his key priority policies receiving mixed reviews, according to a poll released Thursday.

Just 45% of Americans strongly or somewhat support what the president has done since he assumed office Jan. 20, according to a Washington Post/Ipsos poll. Roughly 53% disapproved.

Tellingly, 57% of respondents said they believe Trump has exceeded the power of his office as he continues to attempt to exert unprecedented control over the whole of the federal government, signaling a desire to abolish congressionally established agencies and bring to heel those departments granted independence by lawmakers.

Only 40% said the president is acting within his authority, and the majority of respondents were downbeat on whether they believe Republicans in Congress would try to stop him if he went beyond his constitutional powers. Just 33% said so while 56% believe the Supreme Court would seek to rein him in.

Just 44% approve of his management of the federal government, and only 45% approve of Trump's handling of the economy.

Americans were downbeat on a wide range of top economic priorities from food prices where just 7% said the situation was good or excellent, to gas and energy prices where 22% voiced positive attitudes. Views were also overwhelmingly negative on the incomes of average Americans and unemployment.

Trump received his highest marks for his crackdown on immigration with 50% of respondents voicing approval.

With midterm elections slated for November 2026, 54% said they want Democrats to take control of Congress to serve as a check on Trump compared to just 41% who said they want Republicans to retain control to facilitate the president's agenda. That is a significant reversal from September when people were asked the same question in the run-up to the presidential election showed 45% wanted Democrats to control the federal legislature.