NextFin news, WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump's approval rating dropped further on Monday, September 22, 2025, as a majority of Americans expressed disapproval of his job performance, particularly regarding foreign affairs, tariffs, and immigration policies.
According to a Washington Post-Ipsos poll conducted from September 11 to 15 among 2,513 U.S. adults, Trump's overall approval rating stood at 43%, with 56% disapproving. This marks a slight improvement from a near-historic low of 39% approval in April 2025 but continues a trend of public dissatisfaction.
The poll revealed that many Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of key issues, including the economy, immigration, tariffs, crime, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts. Specifically, 64% disapproved of the administration's tariffs on imported goods, while only 34% approved. On immigration, 55% disapproved of Trump's policies, with 44% approval.
Trump's management of foreign wars also received low marks, with 60% disapproving of his handling of the Russia-Ukraine war and 58% disapproving of his approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Regarding domestic issues, crime was the area where Trump received his highest approval, yet 54% of Americans still disapproved of his handling of the nation's crime situation. The poll also found that 62% of Americans believe Trump has overstepped his presidential authority, an increase from 60% in April 2025.
Separately, a Gallup poll conducted from September 2 to 16, 2025, found that satisfaction with the direction of the United States dipped to 29%, the lowest since Trump took office in January 2025. The decline was largely driven by reduced satisfaction among Republicans, dropping from 76% in August to 68% in September. Concerns about crime and national unity have risen sharply, with mentions of crime or violence doubling from 3% in August to 8% in September, and national unity concerns increasing from 5% to 10%.
Trump's job approval in the Gallup poll remained steady at 40%, with 56% disapproving. Economic confidence also remained negative, with Gallup's Economic Confidence Index steady at -20, reflecting ongoing public pessimism about the economy.
These polling results come amid ongoing tensions over Trump's tariff policies, which have affected trade relations with countries including India, Switzerland, and South Korea. The administration's imposition of tariffs and new immigration fees, such as the $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applicants announced in September 2025, have drawn criticism domestically and internationally.
India's government warned that the new H-1B visa fee would have "humanitarian consequences" due to disruptions for families and the tech industry, which heavily relies on skilled Indian workers. The fee hike follows tariffs imposed on Indian exports and has strained US-India trade relations.
Meanwhile, Switzerland has offered to increase purchases of American weapons and energy products in an effort to negotiate lower tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung cautioned that US demands for investment in exchange for tariff reductions could trigger a financial crisis similar to the 1997 meltdown.
President Trump is also preparing for a high-profile call with China's President Xi Jinping, expected on Friday, September 26, 2025, to discuss trade issues including the TikTok app and tariffs. The call is seen as a critical moment in US-China relations amid ongoing trade tensions.
Overall, the polling data from September 2025 indicate a continued decline in public approval for President Trump, driven by concerns over his handling of foreign affairs, tariffs, immigration, and domestic issues such as crime and national unity.
Sources: The Poughkeepsie Journal (2025-09-22), Gallup (2025-09-22), YouGov (2025-09-22), BBC News (2025-09-20)
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