Trump's Approval Ratings Plunge Amid Government Shutdown Discontent

Wed Nov 12 2025 20:33:39 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A recent AP-NORC poll reveals a significant drop in President Trump's approval ratings for managing the government, primarily driven by discontent among Republicans and independents, coinciding with the ongoing government shutdown.

Approval of President Donald Trump's management of the government has fallen sharply, with only 33% of U.S. adults expressing approval. This decline has been notably marked among Republicans, where support dropped from 81% to 68%. As the government shutdown continues, discontent is evident, and many blame both parties for the crisis, raising concerns over the implications for Trump's presidency.

Approval of President Donald Trump’s management of the government has dropped significantly since the start of his second term, according to an AP-NORC poll conducted following the recent Democratic victories in off-year elections. The survey indicates that only 33% of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s handling of government affairs, a decline from 43% in a similar poll conducted in March.

This decrease is primarily attributed to the falling approval among Republicans and independents. Only 68% of Republicans now express approval, a 13-point drop from March, while independents' approval has plummeted from 38% to 25%.

The survey highlights the potential risks associated with the ongoing government shutdown, which Trump’s administration has attempted to attribute to Democratic obstruction. However, public perception suggests a shared blame across both parties, with citizens criticizing the shutdown's impact on various critical services, including air traffic and federal employee pay.

A Republican voter from Florida, Beverly Lucas, expressed her concern over the government shutdown, likening Trump's second term to "having a petulant child in the White House" while highlighting the insensitivity shown during the crisis, referencing a party Trump hosted at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

Despite the drop in approval regarding government management, Trump’s overall approval remains stable at around 36%. Key issues like immigration and economic handling have shown little variation since previous polls, though health care, amid shutdown debates, remains a contentious topic.

Supporters of Trump continue to defend him, with some attributing the shutdown to Democratic negligence. However, mixed opinions persist, revealing an intricate public sentiment that questions the effectiveness of Trump’s strategies and management style.

As the political landscape evolves, the ongoing government shutdown may have lasting repercussions on public perception of effectively managing the federal government, raising questions about the future of Trump's presidency.