WASHINGTON, DC (LOOTPRESS) – A new Gallup poll shows a significant rise in public satisfaction following Donald Trump’s inauguration, with 34% of Americans now expressing approval of the country’s direction—up from 20% in January. The increase is largely driven by a dramatic shift among Republicans, whose satisfaction surged from 10% to 68%.
Meanwhile, Democratic satisfaction plummeted from 32% to just 5%, one of the largest drops recorded in Gallup’s tracking. Independent voters also showed an increase in satisfaction, rising from 18% to 30%.
Partisan Shift in Public Sentiment
Gallup has observed similar partisan shifts following previous presidential transitions. However, the 58-point jump in Republican satisfaction is the largest since Gallup began tracking by party in 1991. By comparison:
- Democratic satisfaction increased by 40 points after Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration.
- Republican satisfaction rose 33 points after Trump’s first inauguration in 2017.
Government Remains Top Public Concern
Despite the rise in satisfaction, government dissatisfaction remains the top issue for Americans. When asked to name the most important problem facing the U.S., 27% cited the government, followed by:
- 18% – Immigration
- 16% – The economy
- 8% – Inflation
Concerns about government dysfunction have grown significantly among Democrats, with 45% now citing it as the top issue, up from 22% in October. Independents have also shown increased concern (26% vs. 17% in October), while Republican dissatisfaction with the government remains steady at 12%.
Immigration remains Republicans’ top concern (30%), though this figure has dropped 10 points since October. Meanwhile, concerns about the economy have declined across all party groups, with the most significant drop among Republicans (28% to 19%).
A Growing Partisan Divide
The connection between presidential leadership and public satisfaction has become more pronounced in recent years. While past events such as wars or economic crises have influenced public sentiment, political party affiliation now plays a larger role in shaping Americans’ views.
During Trump’s first term, Gallup ranked government dissatisfaction as the top concern 38 times in 48 polls. In Biden’s recently completed term, it was the top issue 33 times in 47 polls. By contrast, the government was cited as the top problem just 19 times during Barack Obama’s presidency (all during his second term) and not once under George W. Bush.
As Trump’s administration begins, the partisan divide in national satisfaction is more pronounced than ever, reflecting deep political polarization in the U.S.
