A new Gallup poll released May 23, 2025, shows little movement in how Americans view national leadership and the economy. President Donald Trump’s job approval remains at 43%, holding steady for the third straight month, while most Americans continue to express pessimism about the country’s economic direction.
Trump approval stable despite mixed economic news
Between May 1–18, Gallup surveyed Americans on a range of political and economic indicators. The results show Trump maintaining support from 90% of Republicans, with only 4% of Democrats and 33% of independents approving of his job performance. That marks a continued decline in independent support since January, when approval among independents was at 46%.
The polling period overlapped with nationwide “May Day” protests targeting the Trump administration’s immigration and spending policies. It also coincided with the president’s diplomatic trip to the Arab Gulf region, where he announced trade and investment agreements.
Congress and country direction ratings remain lowCongressional approval stands at 26%, consistent with last month but down from a recent high of 31% in March.Satisfaction with the direction of the country is at 38%, with stark partisan differences:79% of Republicans say they’re satisfied31% of independents agreeJust 4% of Democrats are satisfied
These figures reflect the highest levels of satisfaction seen since early 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Americans cite poor leadership and immigration as top issues
When asked about the most pressing problem facing the U.S., Americans pointed to noneconomic issues more than economic ones:
26% cite poor governance or leadership13% cite immigration5% cite the judicial system or courts, a slight increase from earlier this yearRace relations and racism also ranked high among noneconomic concerns
On the economic front:
16% mention “the economy” in general8% name inflation4% cite trade or the trade deficit
Republicans were most concerned with immigration (25%), while Democrats (43%) and independents (23%) prioritized concerns about government leadership.
Economic confidence still negative
Americans continue to hold a negative view of the nation’s economic health:
Only 23% rate current economic conditions as “excellent” or “good”58% say the economy is getting worse, compared to 37% who believe it’s improving
Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index stands at -18, unchanged from the -14 to -22 range tracked since November. While this is better than the record lows seen over the past three years, it remains well below the positive sentiment levels from Trump’s first term.
Key takeawaysTrump’s approval is steady at 43%, bolstered by Republican supportIndependent approval has dropped since JanuaryCongress and national direction ratings remain low but are stableMost Americans are pessimistic about the economy’s directionPoor leadership and immigration dominate public concerns
Gallup’s full May 2025 report and historical trend data are available at gallup.com.
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