President Donald Trump’s approval rating has dipped to its lowest point since returning to the White House, as a new Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals growing public unease with his efforts to increase presidential power.
The six-day survey, which concluded Monday, found that 42% of respondents approved of Trump’s performance, down from 43% in a similar poll three weeks earlier and a significant drop from 47% recorded shortly after his January 20 inauguration.
Trump’s early days in office have surprised many of his political opponents, with a flurry of executive orders aimed at expanding his control over both federal agencies and private entities, including universities and legal institutions.
Although Trump’s approval remains higher than the ratings former Democratic President Joe Biden held for most of his term, the poll suggests increasing discomfort with Trump’s aggressive actions—such as targeting liberal-leaning universities and appointing himself board chair of the Kennedy Center, a prominent arts and cultural venue in Washington, D.C.
An overwhelming 83% of the 4,306 respondents said that a U.S. president must follow federal court rulings, even if he personally disagrees. This sentiment comes amid legal challenges to Trump’s deportation orders for Venezuelan nationals, which could result in criminal contempt charges if the administration defies a judge’s ruling.
A majority—57%, including about a third of Republicans—opposed the notion that a president can withhold funding from universities simply because he disagrees with their management or ideology. Trump has accused universities of inadequately addressing antisemitism and has frozen billions in federal funds, including over $2 billion earmarked for Harvard University.
Similarly, 66% of respondents said the president should not control national cultural institutions like museums and theaters. Trump recently instructed the Smithsonian Institution to remove what he called “improper” ideological content from its exhibitions.
Across a broad spectrum of issues—including inflation, immigration, taxes, and rule of law—the poll showed that more Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling than approve. Even on immigration, one of his stronger areas, 45% voiced approval while 46% expressed disapproval.
The poll, which carries a margin of error of about two percentage points, also found that 59% of Americans—including a third of Republican respondents—believe the country is losing credibility on the international stage.
Additionally, three-quarters of those surveyed said Trump should not seek a third term in office—something he has suggested he might pursue, despite constitutional limits. Among Republicans, 53% said they do not support the idea of him running for a third term.
