Americans remain deeply divided over President Donald Trump’s job performance as he prepares to deliver his first address to Congress since returning to the White House, according to the latest PBS News/NPR/Marist poll. While his overall approval rating is higher than at any point during his first term, a majority of Americans still disapprove of his performance so far.
The poll shows 45 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s job performance, while 49 percent disapprove. Notably, 36 percent say they strongly approve — the highest level of strong approval Trump has recorded. Despite that support, his overall approval remains underwater.
Public optimism about the country’s direction has increased. Forty-five percent of Americans now believe the United States is headed in the right direction, up 10 points since December and marking the second-highest reading in the past 15 years. Still, 54 percent say the country is moving in the wrong direction.
Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, said Trump is benefiting from a political honeymoon period but warned that his approval rating should not be interpreted as broad endorsement of his agenda.
“Forty-five percent is a cautionary number,” Miringoff said. “It’s not a mandate.”
In follow-up interviews conducted by PBS News, voters described Trump’s first month back in office using sharply contrasting terms — ranging from “fabulous” to “chaos” to “disaster.” Opinions were firmly divided along party lines, and none of the respondents said their views of Trump had changed since the election.
A fast-paced start
Trump’s first 43 days in office have been marked by an aggressive pace of executive action. He has signed 76 executive orders so far — more than he signed in any single year during his first term.
When he addresses Congress on Tuesday, Trump is expected to highlight those actions, which include tightening immigration pathways, freezing foreign aid, imposing tariffs on trading partners, and significantly reducing the size and scope of the federal government.
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Americans are split on whether these actions are helping or hurting the country. Forty-five percent say Trump is changing the nation for the better, while 48 percent say his actions have made things worse. That includes 54 percent of independents and 5 percent of Trump voters who Miringoff said may now be experiencing “buyer’s remorse.” Another 7 percent say his actions have not produced meaningful change.
Trump’s immigration policies receive his strongest marks, with 47 percent saying they have improved the country and 43 percent saying they have made things worse. His economic and foreign policy actions are viewed more negatively, with 46 percent and 49 percent of Americans, respectively, saying those moves have hurt the country.
“We’re seeing a president back in the realm of major controversy just over a month into his term,” Miringoff said. “There’s a flooding of the zone — often multiple times a day — with little time for the public to digest. Many Americans feel things are moving too fast.”
That perception is reflected in the poll results. Fifty-six percent of Americans say Trump is rushing changes without adequately considering their impact, including two-thirds of independents and 11 percent of Trump voters. Forty-three percent believe he is doing what is necessary to get the government on track.
Views from voters
Some supporters applaud the administration’s urgency. Dominique Evans, an independent from California, said she supports Trump’s push for rapid change.
“Hopefully, it’s for the better,” she said.
Gilbert Diaz, a Texas Republican who voted for Trump, praised the president’s efforts to secure the southern border.
“He’s trying to keep his promises,” Diaz said. “You can’t undo years of damage in just a few months. It’s much easier to destroy things than rebuild them.”
Pennsylvania Republican Evelyn Ardini expressed support for the administration’s cuts to the federal workforce, many of which are being driven by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
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“Dead weight is being cut away,” she said, urging critics to “give him some time.”
Others say the cuts have gone too far. J.K., an independent voter from Michigan who voted for Kamala Harris and asked not to use his full name due to government contract work, said the administration is dismantling government too quickly.
“They’re performing surgery with a sword and a blindfold,” he said. “It’s chaotic and unnecessary.”
Another independent voter, Tanya Staud, said she supports reviewing government spending but criticized what she called Trump’s unilateral decision-making.
“Congress controls the purse strings,” she said. “That’s being ignored.”
Federal workforce cuts and Musk’s role
Tens of thousands of federal employees have been laid off so far, including probationary workers across agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Park Service. Entire agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, are being dismantled, with thousands placed on administrative leave.
More than half of Americans — 55 percent — believe these cuts are doing more harm than good. That includes 61 percent of independents. Forty-five percent believe the cuts are beneficial, including 84 percent of Republicans.
Public opinion of Musk is mixed. Half of Americans view him unfavorably, while 39 percent hold a favorable view. A majority of independents and more than 80 percent of Democrats view him negatively, citing concerns about his unelected influence over government operations.
“He’s unelected and wielding enormous power,” J.K. said. “The richest man on Earth is gutting our government.”
Erosion of trust in checks and balances
Confidence in the nation’s system of checks and balances has dropped sharply. Just 43 percent of Americans believe it is functioning well — a 23-point decline since December. Nearly three-quarters of Republicans remain confident, compared with one-third of independents and 20 percent of Democrats.
A majority of Americans also lack confidence that Trump will comply with court rulings on his policies. Only 42 percent believe he will abide by judicial decisions, while 58 percent do not.
“The fact that so many Americans doubt that is deeply troubling,” Miringoff said. “It raises fundamental questions about the health of our democracy.”
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Other policy views
The poll also measured public opinion on several other issues:
- 57 percent expect grocery prices to rise over the next six months
- 17 percent expect prices to fall
- 37 percent support eliminating the Department of Education
- 63 percent oppose dismantling the Education Department
- 28 percent support Trump’s suggestion that the U.S. take control of Gaza
- 71 percent oppose the idea
As Trump prepares to address Congress, the poll underscores a nation deeply divided — energized by change, unsettled by its pace, and uncertain about where the country is headed next.
