According to the latest NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey, Americans continue to express negative views regarding President Donald Trump’s job performance. This comes amidst a surge of activity from his administration focusing on critical issues such as tariffs, immigration, and public health. The poll highlights that a significant number of U.S. adults show strong, bipartisan support for vaccines, particularly as Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., attempts to limit certain vaccine shots.
Conducted between August 13 and September 1, the poll surveyed a total of 30,196 adults online, with a margin of error of ±1.9 percentage points. Notably, the survey was conducted prior to a contentious congressional hearing where Democratic and some Republican senators clashed with Kennedy regarding vaccine access.
When asked to rate Trump’s job performance, just over 43% of Americans approved of his leadership, a figure maintaining consistency since June. In contrast, 57% of respondents disapproved. The poll revealed Trump's weakest ratings stem from his handling of economic issues, including inflation, where only 39% approved of his performance. Approval ratings concerning trade and tariffs were slightly better, at 41%.
On issues of immigration, Americans rated the president more favorably. Interestingly, the poll asked slightly different questions to different halves of the respondents. Those inquired about Trump's handling of “border security and immigration” granted him a 47% approval, while those asked about “deportations and border security” gave a lower rating of 43%.
The poll also delved into emotional responses regarding Trump's presidency. Nearly 49% of Democrats reported feeling “furious” about the Trump administration's actions, indicating a strong negative sentiment. Conversely, 27% of Republicans expressed being “thrilled” with the administration's performance, while 18% felt “happy” and 28% reported being “satisfied.” In stark contrast, only 8% of independents shared positive feelings, with a significant 56% indicating negative sentiments.
As the political landscape shifts towards the upcoming 2026 elections, a majority of Americans, about 58%, expressed a preference for political insiders with the experience necessary to make impactful changes. This preference contrasts with the 42% who lean towards political outsiders seeking to disrupt the system. Interestingly, while Trump brands himself as a political outsider, 60% of Republican respondents still favored political insiders.
On the other hand, approximately 75% of Democrats preferred insiders, even amid ongoing discussions about generational change within the party. Additionally, 60% of independents echoed the sentiment for experienced politicians.
Amidst Trump's recent actions, such as deploying National Guard troops to Washington, crime and safety have gained prominence in political discussions. Currently, 18% of Republicans prioritize crime and safety as their top concern, an increase of 5 percentage points since June. However, Democrats and independents have not shifted their views on the importance of this issue.
Inflation continues to be a pressing concern for Americans, with 45% of U.S. adults identifying it as the most significant economic issue affecting their families. This concern dwarfs other issues such as healthcare costs, taxes, and housing affordability. Interestingly, while optimism about personal finances remains low overall, about 40% of Republicans reported better financial situations compared to a year ago.
When it comes to public health, there is overwhelming support for vaccines among Americans, with 78% expressing support and 49% strongly backing the use of vaccines for disease prevention. Notably, support spans across party lines, with 93% of Democrats, 72% of independents, and 67% of Republicans in favor of vaccines. However, there is a growing concern among some segments, as a third of Republicans and about 30% of independents oppose the use of vaccines.
As the political landscape evolves, the implications of vaccine-related policies and rhetoric will remain crucial in shaping public opinion and electoral outcomes. The NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey serves as an important indicator of these shifting dynamics.
