Here’s what conservatives need to know.
President Donald J. Trump’s approval rating has hit its lowest point of his second term, according to new polling, giving the mainstream media fresh ammunition to attack him. But conservatives say the numbers tell a very different story.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released this week shows 40% of respondents approve of Trump’s job performance, down 7 points since the start of his second term. The figure matches the level seen for much of his first term, when Trump was under constant fire from Democrats, the media, and Washington insiders determined to derail his presidency.
Establishment Polls vs. Real Support
Trump’s critics are quick to point to the decline as proof of weakness. Yet conservative analysts argue that polls like these have been used for years to suppress enthusiasm and create a false sense of inevitability. Despite the so-called “low numbers,” Trump continues to dominate in fundraising, draw massive crowds to his rallies, and maintain fierce loyalty among his base.
Decision Desk HQ’s average of polls puts Trump at a stronger 46.5% approval, with 50.5% disapproval. At the start of his second term, he was at 56% approval — proof that the media-driven controversies surrounding his administration, from handling the Epstein scandal to deploying federal force in violent Democrat-run cities like Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., have been weaponized to drag him down.
Polls Consistently Undervalue Trump
A Pew Research Center survey earlier this month showed Trump at 38%, slightly down from June’s 41%. But history has proven these polls wrong before — in both 2016 and 2020, Trump outperformed the polls, leaving pundits scrambling for answers.
The latest Reuters/Ipsos survey polled 4,446 Americans between August 13–18, with a margin of error of about 2 points. Even with that margin, the media is already spinning the numbers as a “crisis” for Trump.
The Bigger Picture
Polls may capture temporary moods, but they can’t measure the silent majority — hard-working Americans, especially seniors and middle-class families, who are fed up with Democrat failures on the border, inflation, crime, and foreign policy. Many believe these polls are less about accuracy and more about shaping a narrative ahead of the next election.