Trump offers $1M gold card
President Donald Trump unveiled the $1 million ‘gold card’ and higher H1-B fees, claiming it will reduce taxes and debt.
President Donald Trump’s approval ratings dipped in most polls following a week marked by controversial domestic policy moves, high-profile diplomacy and intensifying immigration crackdown efforts.
On Monday, Trump met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a visit to the United Kingdom, where the two leaders announced plans for more than $10 billion in economic deals. The agreements include a new science and technology partnership, civil nuclear cooperation and defense technology initiatives.
Back home, Trump signed a memorandum creating the Memphis Safe Task Force, deploying National Guard troops to the Tennessee city in response to rising violent crime. While Tennessee’s Republican leadership praised the move, Memphis Mayor Paul Young, a Democrat, criticized the deployment as ineffective.
Trump also teased a potential resolution to the long-running dispute over TikTok’s ownership, suggesting that young Americans “will be very happy” with the outcome. The administration has been negotiating with ByteDance, the China-based parent company, ahead of a looming ban deadline.
In a separate move, Trump announced a new $100,000 fee for companies seeking H-1B visas for foreign workers, part of a broader immigration overhaul that also includes a proposed “Gold Card” program for high-skilled immigrants.
The president also faced criticism over his feud with TV host Jimmy Kimmel after the President praised ABC’s canceling of his TV show, sparking protests and drawing national attention.
Here’s what to know about Trump’s approval rating, including how they are decided and how Trump’s ratings compare with his first term and past presidents.
What is Donald Trump’s approval rating?
Here are the latest approval ratings released about Trump’s administration:
- Real Clear Polling‘s average of polls from Sept. 6 to Sept. 18 shows a 46.3% approval and 52.6% disapproval rate.
- A Reuters/Ipsos poll from Sept. 5 to Sept. 9 reported that 42% of those surveyed gave him a favorable approval rating of his performance in office and 54% gave an unfavorable rating.
- The New York Times daily average of polls showed a 43% approval rating and 54% disapproval as of Sept. 19.
- A poll from the Associated Press and NORC showed 39% approve and 60% disapprove of Trump.
- The Economist shows that 39% of people are favorable of Trump and 56% are unfavorable of him, according to the latest update from Sept. 19.
- A Rasmussen Reports poll from Sept. 19 showed 53% approval and 46% disapproval of Trump.
- A Morning Consult poll updated Sept. 15 showed 46% of voters approve of Trump’s performance, while 52% disapprove.
- The American Research Group poll from Aug. 21 showed 38% approve and 59% disapprove.
How does Trump’s approval rating compare with his 1st term?
Trump had a final approval rating of 34% when he left office in 2021. His approval average during his first term was 41%.
How does Trump’s approval rating compare with past presidents?
- Joe Biden – 40%
- Donald Trump (first term) – 34%
- Barack Obama – 59%
- George W. Bush – 34%
- Bill Clinton – 66%
- George H.W. Bush – 56%
- Ronald Reagan – 63%
- Jimmy Carter – 34%
- Gerald Ford – 53%
- Richard Nixon – 24%
Are presidential approval ratings accurate?
Data agency Gallup notes that these approval ratings are a “simple measure, yet a very powerful one that has played a key role in politics for over 70 years.”
A president’s approval rating reflects the percentage of Americans polled who approve of the president’s performance. Anything can impact a president’s rating, such as legislation passed, actions and elections.
According to ABC News, an approval rating doesn’t just represent how well the administration is doing for the general public, but could determine the outcome of an upcoming election for a politician or how much they get done during their time in office.
While these ratings are easy to understand, Quorum says some analysts believe they are not as useful as they once were due to extreme partisanship and the polarized political climate.
“Presidential approval ratings have always been partisan, with members of the president’s party offering more positive assessments than those in the opposing party,” according to the Pew Research Center. “But the differences between Republicans and Democrats on views of the president have grown substantially in recent decades.”
USA TODAY Network reporter Maria Francis contributed to this article.
