Trump’s Record Card: Mixed Reviews on the Issues that Matter Most

Now over 100 days into his second term, President Donald Trump faces a divided electorate not just on his personality but on his policy performance. While voters overwhelmingly agree that the economy and inflation remain the most pressing national concerns, their views on how well Trump is handling those issues and others like immigration, crime and foreign policy, tell a more complicated story. The polling data from July 2025 reveals that while Trump has a strong base of approval, his broader support remains fragile and uneven.

The Economy: Priority Doesn’t Mean Praise

A majority of voters believe Trump is prioritising the economy and inflation but only 32% think he’s handling it well (19% “very well” and 13% “fairly well”). This figure is skewed heavily by Republican voters, of which 37%  rate his economic performance “very well”, compared to just 4% of Harris voters.

What’s more revealing is the high level of disapproval: 33% of voters say Trump is handling the economy “very poorly” including 41% of 65+ voters. Another 10% say he’s doing “fairly poorly”, with only 13% sitting in the middle. For an issue that 49% of the public says matters most, these numbers suggest Trump is not yet convincing the country that his economic plan is delivering tangible results.

Inflation and Cost of Living: An Even Tougher Grade

Voters are even more critical of Trump’s handling of inflation and the cost of living, arguably the most personal aspect of economic management. 37% say he’s handling it well, while 47% say he’s doing poorly including 35% who said “very poorly”. Only 17% believe he is managing inflation “very well” and even among Republican voters, that number only rises to 34%.

The data also shows a consistent generational divide: voters aged 18–44 are significantly more likely to rate his performance positively compared to the older generation.

Immigration: His Strongest Issue But Not Unchallenged

Immigration remains Trump’s best-rated policy area. A combined 48% of voters say he’s handling it “well” (29% “very well” and 19% “fairly well”), making it his top-performing issue in terms of public perception. Among Republican voters, that figure jumps to 56% rating his performance “very well”. And it’s also where the public most clearly distinguishes him from the previous administration.

However, approval is far from universal. 31% still say he is handling immigration “very poorly” and an additional 9% say “fairly poorly”. Democrats (61% answered “very poorly”) in particular continue to express concern about the humanitarian and legal consequences of Trump’s hardline approach, including mass deportation efforts and the use of state-level enforcement programs.

Crime and Public Safety: Perceptions Lag Promises

Trump has often emphasised “law and order”, yet his ratings on crime and public safety are middling. Just 41% think he is handling it well, while 28% say “very poorly”. Notably, only 19% rate him “very well” on this issue and only 8% of Kamala Harris voters agree he’s doing even “fairly well”.

Younger voters, especially those aged 55+, are particularly sceptical of Trump’s handling of crime. In this age group, over 30% rate his performance “very poorly”.

Foreign Policy: A Divided Verdict

On foreign policy, just 22% say he is handling the issue “very well” and another 19% say “fairly well”. These modest ratings come despite Trump’s high-profile interventions in NATO funding, Ukraine peace negotiations and the US-China energy standoff.

For a president who has sought to portray himself as a global dealmaker, vouching to end the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours, these muted numbers may be disappointing.

Many See No Success at All

Perhaps the most damaging number for Trump is this: although 31% say he has performed best on immigration, 35% of Americans say he hasn’t performed well in any policy area listed. This includes 66% of Kamala Harris voters and 42% of non-voters, underscoring the limits of Trump’s appeal outside his core base.

Taken together, these ratings show a president who is clearly focused on the economy and immigration, two of the most important voter concerns but struggling to gain widespread approval for how he is managing them. .

The data suggests that the challenge for Trump is no longer convincing the public of his priorities, it’s persuading them that his policies are working.

Download the data tables for this poll.