New AP-NORC Poll Highlights Evolving Republican Views on Donald Trump’s Leadership
A new national survey has taken a closer look at how Republicans and the wider American public view President Donald Trump’s performance in office, showing that while he continues to maintain strong support within his own party, some areas of approval—especially the economy—have weakened in recent months.
The poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research data still shows President Donald Trump holding a solid position among Republican voters. Overall, 72% of Republicans said they approve of his job performance, while 28% expressed disapproval. This indicates that his influence within the party remains strong, although not without some decline in specific policy areas.
One of the most notable findings in the survey relates to the economy, which continues to be a sensitive issue. Republican approval of Trump’s handling of economic matters has dropped to 63%, compared to 79% in February. This marks a significant decline and suggests growing concern among some supporters about economic direction and rising costs.
Despite this dip, the poll shows that Trump continues to receive high approval from Republicans on several other major issues. On immigration, he holds an 83% approval rating, with only 17% disapproving of his handling of the issue. His foreign policy performance is also viewed positively within the party, with 73% approval and 26% disapproval.
On international matters, including the situation involving Iran, 68% of Republicans approved of his handling, while 30% disapproved. These numbers suggest that while economic concerns may be affecting perceptions, Trump’s stance on national security and foreign affairs continues to resonate strongly with his base.
When looking at the broader U.S. population, the picture changes significantly. Overall approval of Trump’s job performance stands at 37%, while 62% of respondents disapprove. Issue-based responses also show similar patterns. On the economy, only 33% of all respondents approved of his handling, while 67% disapproved. On Iran-related matters, approval stood at 34%, compared to 64% disapproval. Foreign policy received 36% approval, while immigration showed relatively higher support at 45%, though still slightly outweighed by 54% disapproval.
The survey was conducted between May 14 and May 18 and included responses from 1,117 U.S. adults. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points, meaning small shifts in results should be interpreted with some caution.
Overall, the findings suggest a mixed political landscape. While Donald Trump continues to maintain strong loyalty among Republican voters, especially on immigration and foreign policy, concerns about the economy may be slowly reshaping opinions within parts of his base. At the national level, however, public sentiment remains largely divided, with more respondents disapproving than approving of his overall performance.
Sources
Associated Press
AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey (May 14–18, 2026)
