President Donald Trump began his second term in office with a divided nation and polling numbers – 47% of those surveyed approved of him in January 2025, while 48% disapproved, according to Gallup.
Poll results have continued to widen, even before Trump’s controversial capture of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3.
New Venezuela poll: One in three approve of Maduro’s removal.
Trump’s ratings in December declined to 36% approval, 59% disapproval as the Trump administration pursued its contentious agenda. That included carrying out strict immigration action in a number of states, sending National Guard soldiers to U.S. cities, and issuing tariffs that affected prices across the country.
As Trump enters the second year of his second term, USA TODAY took a quick look at how his administration is being perceived in comparison to past presidencies. Here is what we found:
How Trump’s approval ratings have changed
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How Trump approval ratings compare to those of other presidents
While presidents usually enjoy what’s called “honeymoon” approval scores early in their terms, approval ratings for Trump’s first years in office are below those of recent presidents. President George W. Bush’s ratings were higher following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Unemployment rate hits four-year high
Unemployment under Trump rose to 4.6% in November, its highest level since 2021. Contributing factors included difficulty for many in finding new jobs and the lingering effects of 317,000 job cuts in the federal workforce.
National debt has increased under Trump
The national debt has risen significantly during Trump’s first year, going from $36.2 trillion to $38.4 trillion, an increase of $2.2 trillion or nearly 6%.
The increase is the largest recent accumulation of debt outside of the pandemic. Rising debt can slow economic growth and cause higher interest rates, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
Trump executive orders
Trump signed 225 executive orders during 2025, a record over the past 56 fiscal years. About 59 orders dealt with foreign policy, according to Ballotpedia, while others concerned tariffs, foreign trade, immigration and the federal workforce.
By comparison, President Franklin Roosevelt issued 568 executive orders in 1933, the fourth year of the Great Depression.
How Trump’s government shutdowns compare
The 43-day closure of the federal government was the longest single shutdown in U.S. history. The second-longest shutdown, 35 days, took place during Trump’s administration in 2019.
While the U.S. economy grew in the third quarter, the shutdown likely derailed growth and hiring, USA TODAY reported.
CONTRIBUTING Kinsey Crowley, N’dea Yancey-Bragg, Andrea Riquier, USA TODAY
SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Gallup; Reuters
