Donald Trump’s approval rating dips after first month

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen slightly after his first month in office, a new poll shows.

The poll surveyed 1,039 self-identified registered voters nationwide and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Why It Matters

The slight drop in Trump’s approval rating comes as the president faces criticism for several policies and actions. These include his ongoing efforts to downsize the federal government, which have resulted in thousands of workers being laid off, and his suggestion that the U.S. will “take over” the Gaza Strip and resettle Palestinians from the area while it is rebuilt.

What To Know

Trump’s approval rating has fallen marginally since he began his second term in January, according to the latest Quinnipiac poll, conducted between February 13 and 17.

According to the poll, 45 percent of voters approve of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president, while 49 percent disapprove. In Quinnipiac University’s January 29 poll, 46 percent of voters approved, while 43 percent disapproved.

Trump’s approval rating with regards to his immigration agenda, which has included ramping up deportations and proposals to build facilities to house illegal immigrants at Guantanamo Bay, has also fallen marginally. In January, 47 percent approved of the way Trump is handling immigration issues, while 46 percent disapproved. A month later, only 46 percent approved while 49 percent disapproved.

In addition, 44 percent of Americans approved of Trump’s handling of the economy, while 48 percent disapproved, while 41 percent approved of his handling of federal workers against 49 percent who disapproved.

Since taking office, Trump has sought to radically overhaul the federal government, firing hundreds of civil servants, and creating the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to advise on a substantial reduction in the size and scope of government.

The poll showed that his support among Republicans has strengthened, with 90 percent of Republican voters surveyed saying they approve of his performance as president, up from 86 percent in January.

But more Republican voters now disapprove of the president—7 percent of GOP voters against 4 percent in January.

Among Democrats, disapproval of the president has increased, from 86 percent in January to 90 percent now.

According to the latest Gallup poll, Trump holds the lowest approval rating of any elected president since 1953 and is the only one to start with sub-50 percent approval.

What People Are Saying

Quinnipiac University polling analyst Tim Malloy said: “In a perfect world, the three great pillars of U.S. government stand firm, functional, and aligned with the Constitution. It’s clear at the moment that registered voters sense dysfunction,”

Laura Smith, a presidential historian at Oxford University, previously told Newsweek: “Modern presidents normally begin their term with a so-called ‘honeymoon’ period, enabling them to be particularly active in their first 100 days.”