Are the americans ashamed of their president Trump?
Executive summary
Americans are divided about President Trump, but contemporary polling shows more people disapprove than approve of his performance overall and worry about his approach—especially on the economy, executive power, and some signature policies—while a cohesive Republican base continues to support him [1] [2] [3]. Approval metrics vary by poll and by issue, so the short answer is: many Americans are disappointed or worried, but a substantial and loyal minority is not ashamed and remains strongly supportive [4] [5].
1. Approval is below majority and drifting downward
Multiple reputable trackers show Trump’s overall job approval clustered in the high 30s to low 40s, with some polls recording second-term lows—Gallup reported a 36% approval in a recent reading and rising disapproval to 60% [1], while other national surveys put him near 39–41% or around 40% in AP/NORC data [2] [4]. Analysts including Chatham House note that “much of the American public disapproves of the president and his flagship policies,” signaling a broader trend of waning popularity as his term progresses [6] [7].
2. Economic dissatisfaction drives shame, worry and political danger
Economic perception is a central fault line: a PBS/NPR/Marist poll found 57% of Americans disapprove of how Trump is handling the economy, eroding what had been a comparative strength for him and fueling public anxiety about cost-of-living pressures [8]. CNN and Morning Consult polling likewise show that voters view the economy and affordability as top problems the president is not addressing, a dynamic that translates into more public frustration than pride [2] [9].
3. Issue-specific approval is uneven—immigration up, then sliding
On some signature issues Trump retains relative strength: immigration and national security score better than other areas in some trackers (Morning Consult reported higher marks on immigration and national security at about 47% each) [9]. Yet views on his handling of immigration have slipped substantially in other data—the AP/NORC reporting and Forbes analysis note a marked decline from earlier highs, showing how isolated events and policy fallout can dampen public enthusiasm [4].
4. Partisan polarization means ‘ashamed’ is unevenly distributed
The nation remains deeply polarized: Republicans overwhelmingly continue to back the president while independents and Democrats provide the lion’s share of negative judgments—Gallup shows Republican approval still high even as independent approval has fallen into the mid-20s [1]. That polarization means “Americans” is not monolithic; substantial cohorts are proud and unashamed even as pluralities or majorities in broader samples express worry or disapproval [5].
5. Beyond policy: concerns about executive power and democratic norms
A distinctive source of public unease is perception of presidential overreach: surveys summarized by Brookings and NYT/Siena show a majority of Americans think Trump is exceeding his lawful authority—54% in one cited finding—fueling concerns that go beyond concrete policy outcomes and into questions of institutional norms [3] [10]. That dynamic is a common reason for shame or alarm among critics and fence-sitters.
6. International and elite opinion compounds domestic worry but doesn’t equal universal shame
International polls and commentary show diminished confidence in Trump’s world leadership compared with recent predecessors, and outlets tracking public sentiment highlight declining global ratings—data compiled in public polling summaries and Wikipedia note weaker international assessments and divided global opinion [11] [6]. Domestically, media and commentators highlight negative trends (Newsweek, Chatham House), but the persistence of a loyal Republican base and variance across polls and issues means many Americans remain supportive, not ashamed [7] [5].