September 15, 2017
9/15: Trump’s Approval Rating at 39%
Marist National Poll
President Donald Trump’s job approval rating among Americans is up slightly from 35% last month to 39% currently. The president’s job score matches his highest approval rating, 39%, which he last received in April. Currently, half of Americans, 50%, similar to 51% when it was last reported in August, disapprove of how Trump is doing his job. Of note, the proportion of U.S. residents who say they strongly disapprove of the president’s job performance, 37%, still overshadows the proportion who say they strongly approve, 22%.
At a similar point in President Barack Obama’s first term (October 2009), President Obama’s approval rating among registered voters was 53%.
The improvement in President Trump’s approval rating can be attributed to his base. 87% of Republicans, an increase from 79%, and 91% of those who supported the president in the 2016 election, up from 86%, view the president’s job performance positively. 86% of Democrats and 53% of independents currently disapprove of how Mr. Trump is doing his job, little changed from last month’s survey.
“There has been some rallying behind President Trump for his handling of hurricanes Harvey and Irma,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “But, his improved standing is seen only among his core supporters. He is still unable to reach beyond his base.”
President Trump garners praise from 55% of Americans who say they approve of how he has handled the recent hurricanes in the United States. 25% disapprove, and one in five, 20%, are unsure.
While most Republicans, 78%, and close to two-thirds of independents, 64%, approve of how Trump dealt with these natural disasters, even one in three Democrats, 33%, say the same. Among Democrats, only 45% disapprove, and more than one in five, 22%, are unsure. The president’s supporters, 81%, are satisfied with Trump’s performance in this area.
With mixed messages from the White House on the direction of immigration policy, President Trump does not fare as well on the issue of DACA. A majority of Americans, 57%, disapprove of his move to end the policy. 33% approve, and 10% are unsure.
72% of both Republicans and Trump supporters approve of his ending DACA. Most Democrats, 85%, and many independents, 62%, disapprove.
“Although Republicans and Trump supporters want to end DACA, the proportions of both of these groups on this question is considerably below how they rate him on his job performance, overall,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.
Complete September 15, 2017 Marist Poll Release of the United States