President Donald Trump has maintained a positive approval rating through his first month in office, with average approval of 49 percent, while 47.5 percent disapprove, according to the latest average of national polls compiled by RealClearPolling.com, following Trump’s joint address to Congress on March 4.
The support continues despite an onslaught of negative media coverage and very public opposition by Congressional Democrats against Trump’s immigration border security and deportation policies, new tariffs and government spending, regulatory and personnel cuts, including the efforts by the White House Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
It appears to mirror support Trump received in the Nov. 2024 election, when he defeated former Vice President Kamala Harris with 49.8 percent of the popular vote to Harris’ 48.3 percent, or 77.3 million to 75 million.
Just like anything else, Trump has picked up some support and lost some, gaining 10 percent approval from Harris’ 2024 supporters while maintaining 91 percent support from his 2024 supporters, according to the crosstabs of the latest Economist-YouGov poll taken March 1 to March 4.
And it comes across several important demographics, with 46 percent to 44 percent among 18-29-year-olds, 42 percent to 54 percent among 30-44-year-olds, 54 percent to 40 percent among 45-64-year-olds and 49 percent to 49 percent among those 65-years-old and older.
Trump still decidedly holds the gender gap advantage, with 54 percent approval among males to 42 percent disapproving, and 43 percent approval among females to just 50 percent disapproving.
Besides Trump’s obvious inroads with younger voters, a traditionally Democratic constituency until 2024, Trump maintains 24 percent approval among Blacks and 45 percent among Hispanics, the best ever by a Republican president in modern history.
And Trump is staying above water on critical issues including the economy at 47 percent to 46 percent, immigration at 54 percent to 42 percent and crime at 49 percent to 40 percent.
One potential area of weakness comes on inflation — 25 percent say it remains the most important issue — where just 45 percent approve while 48 percent disapprove, something Democrats are hoping to capitalize upon.
But where inflation will matter the most is at it relates to wages. For example, average weekly wages are currently increasing at 3.4 percent rate the past 12 months, compared to consumer prices that are at 3 percent, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
When incomes outpace prices, then the American people’s standard of living improves, but when the rolls are reversed, when prices outpace incomes, as it did significantly during the Biden administration — similar trends brought down Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush — then it can destroy political support. It’s a majority killer.
Here, Trump is clearly looking ahead, willing for there to be temporary disruption in the economy with the goal of getting prices and interest rates down. That could mean higher unemployment or even a slowdown or recession, but long term, politically, that’s a better bet than inflation. For example Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama all weathered recessions in their first terms but were all easily reelected. When it comes to recessions and presidents, usually the sooner the better.
It is also worth noting that Trump is still experiencing by far his best approval ratings ever in his political career, and while remaining above water, earns political capital that should enable his Republican counterparts to enact Trump’s tax, regulatory and border security agenda in Congress. But the window is actually somewhat narrow, with the 2026 midterms coming sooner than anyone thinks. Generally, the rule is, act now while majorities and public approval last. Stay tuned.
Robert Romano is the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government Foundation.
Reproduced with permission. Original here: Trump Approval Remains Positive Into March After Joint Address To Congress As Media Onslaught Falls Flat
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