Donald Trump couldn’t believe it. This was the last thing he expected.
And a new test result hit Trump’s desk that left his jaw on the floor.
Three months into his second stint as president, Donald Trump is riding a wave of public approval unlike anything he’s seen before in the Oval Office. A fresh NBC News poll released on Sunday reveals that more Americans feel the nation is finally heading in the right direction than at any time since 2004.
It’s a striking milestone for a leader who has long polarized the country—and a glimmer of hope for his administration as it navigates a tricky landscape.
The numbers paint a rosy picture for Trump in some key areas. His approval rating has climbed to a personal best of 47%, edging out his previous highs from early 2020 and October 2018. Meanwhile, 44% of registered voters say the country is on the right path—the highest mark in two decades, dating back to George W. Bush’s presidency.
That’s a dramatic leap from last September, when only 28% felt optimistic under the previous administration, while a hefty 65% saw the nation veering off course.
Yet, the poll isn’t all sunshine for Trump. Despite the uptick, he still hasn’t won over most Americans—51% disapprove of his performance. And for the first time in NBC’s tracking, a majority (54%) give him a thumbs-down on the economy, a sore spot for a president who’s staked much of his reputation on financial swagger.
Still, voters seem to be warming to Trump’s agenda. On the issues that matter most, many say he’s delivering “the right kind of change.” Take trade policy: despite a rocky week on Wall Street after Trump rolled out steep tariffs—25% on Canada and Mexico, 20% on China—41% of Americans back his approach, narrowly outpacing the 38% who don’t.
His border policies are an even bigger hit, with 56% calling them a positive shift. And on slashing government spending, 47% approve, while just 29% disagree.
Even on thornier topics like the Ukraine war and NATO—where Trump’s faced fierce criticism—voters are split but lean slightly in his favor, with 41% praising his moves compared to 40% who push back. Inflation, a nagging headache for any administration, also gets a surprising pass: 40% say Trump’s policies are helping, against 30% who see a downside, and 28% who shrug and say nothing’s changed.
Trump remains a lightning rod, though. Republicans adore him, giving him a towering 90% approval rating, while Democrats can barely stomach him—his support among them sits at a measly 4%. That gap, the widest between a president’s party and the opposition in 80 years, shows just how divided the nation still is.
The poll also highlights a rare bright spot: Americans are feeling better about where things are headed. That 44% “right track” figure is a far cry from the gloom of recent years, even if 54% still see trouble ahead.
Compare that to Trump’s first term, when his approval hovered at 44% at this stage (per RealClearPolitics), or Joe Biden’s 53% at the same point. Trump’s current 48.2% average across polls suggests he’s gaining ground.
One bold move defining his second term is the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a cost-cutting brainchild that’s ruffled feathers.
Government workers have protested, Democrats have cried foul, and the public’s split—47% view it negatively, though 46% think it’s a smart idea. Trump, backed by Elon Musk, isn’t budging, betting it’ll trim the federal deficit despite the uproar.
Meanwhile, Democrats are in a tailspin. Their favorability has tanked to 27% in the NBC poll, with 55% viewing them unfavorably—the party’s worst showing ever in this survey. A CNN poll echoes the sentiment, pegging their favorability at a dismal 29%, another historic low.
The media isn’t faring much better in the public’s eyes. Nearly half (46%) say coverage of Trump has been overly harsh, while 25% think it’s too soft, and 24% call it fair. It’s a sign that skepticism runs deep—not just toward politicians, but the outlets chronicling them.
Conducted March 7-11 with 1,000 registered voters, the NBC News poll carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 points.
As Trump’s second term unfolds, the data suggests a nation at a crossroads—hopeful yet hesitant, cheering some changes while wrestling with others. For a president who thrives on defying expectations, it’s a familiar tightrope to walk.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
