President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have eclipsed those of former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush during their second terms, challenging media narratives of widespread unpopularity. A July 2025 Rasmussen Reports poll pegs Trump’s approval at 52%, compared to Obama’s 47% average in 2013 and Bush’s 40% in 2005, per Gallup historical data. Supporters argue Trump’s appeal stems from his aggressive policy moves—slashing $9.4 billion in federal spending, securing the border, and surviving a 2024 assassination attempt—resonating with 77 million voters who backed him in 2024, per AP vote counts.
Trump’s team, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, claims his focus on “America First” policies, like banning Chinese farmland purchases and boosting military recruitment, has restored national pride. A 2025 Pew Research poll shows 59% of Americans feel optimistic about the economy, up from 42% in 2023, crediting Trump’s deregulation push. His defiance of media criticism, exemplified by a $10 billion lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, further endears him to a base skeptical of mainstream outlets.
Critics, including Rep. Jamie Raskin, counter that Trump’s 44% unfavorable rating in a 2025 CBS News poll reflects deep division, with urban and minority voters less supportive. Obama and Bush, they argue, faced less polarized climates. Yet, Trump’s ability to draw crowds—10,000 at a July 2025 Pennsylvania rally—outstrips his predecessors’ second-term events. As the 2026 midterms loom, the question persists: is Trump’s popularity a media-defying triumph or a polarized bubble?
