Donald Trump Polls: President’s Approval Rating Reaches 39 Percent

Donald Trump, Donald Trump meeting, Donald Trump roosevelt room

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with county sheriffs in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC, February 7th, 2017. (Getty)

Just 39 percent of Americans approve of the job President Donald Trump is doing in the White House, according to new data from Pew Research Center.

In a poll conducted from February 7th through February 12th, 39 percent of Americans said they approve of the job Trump is doing compared to 56 percent who disapprove. Trump’s approval rating is substantially lower than any other president’s was during this time. In February 2009, Barack Obama’s approval rating was 64 percent, and in February 2001, George W. Bush’s approval rating was 53 percent. The only time that any recent president had a lower approval rating than Trump’s was President Bush in December 2008, the last full month of his administration.

This poll also shows that there are very few people who have mixed feelings about Trump. Seventy-five percent of respondents either “strongly” approve or “strongly” disapprove of Trump, while only 17 percent don’t feel strongly about their answer.

Trump is also dividing Americans across party lines more than any recent president, as almost all Republicans support him and almost all Democrats oppose him. Eighty-four percent of Republicans said they support Trump, while only eight percent of Democrats support him. For comparison, in February 2009, 37 percent of Republicans approved of Barack Obama, and in February 2001, 30 percent of Democrats approved of George W. Bush.

In terms of Trump’s recent travel ban, 59 percent of respondents disapprove of it, and 38 percent approve. Once again this is largely across party lines, as 81 percent of Republicans support the travel ban and 89 percent of Democrats oppose it. Also, 53 percent of voters said that the administration did a poor job implementing the ban, including 20 percent of Republicans.

When asked if the travel ban will prevent terrorist attacks, 22 percent said it will, but 36 percent said it will make no difference, and 38 percent said it will actually increase the chances of an attack.

On the topic of refugees, 56 percent of Americans said they believe the U.S. has a responsibility to accept refugees, although when asked specifically about Syrian refugees, 49 percent said the U.S. does not have a responsibility to accept them compared to 47 percent who said it does. This is an increase in support for Syrian refugees since October, when 54 percent told Pew that the U.S. doesn’t have a responsibility to accept them.

Republicans are far more concerned about Islamic extremism than Democrats, as 88 percent of Republicans said they are somewhat concerned about it and 64 percent said they are very concerned about it. On the other hand, 61 percent of Democrats said they are somewhat concerned about Islamic extremism, and only 30 percent said they are very concerned.

In addition, 68 percent of respondents said that Trump is not even-tempered, 63 percent said he is not a good communicator, 59 percent said he is not trustworthy, 57 percent said he is not well informed, and 56 percent said he does not care about people like them. However, 60 percent said he keeps his promises, and 54 percent said he’s able to get things done. Americans were divided 49 to 49 on whether he is a strong leader.