Trump’s second term was sold as a redemption arc, a chance to prove that disruption meant results. From tariffs to immigration crackdowns to bold foreign policy gambits, he has framed his presidency as a story of strength misunderstood by the elites and finally embraced by “real Americans.” Yet the polling shows a nation still unconvinced: only about four in ten adults approve of his performance, virtually unchanged since early 2025.
Behind the speeches about record wins lies a harsher verdict. Majorities disapprove of his handling of the economy, immigration, foreign policy, and trade, despite his insistence that he alone has restored American power. His base remains intensely loyal, but it is not growing. The central drama of Trump’s second term is now clear: a president declaring historic triumph while most of the country quietly, stubbornly, refuses to believe him.
