A year and a half into Donald J. Trump's second term, a recent YouGov poll finds that the majority of Americans describe the 47th President of the US as 'dangerous'. Fifty-two per cent of Americans chose the word dangerous, while 49 per cent also opted for 'corrupt'. Another 45 per cent used 'racist' and 'out-of-touch' to characterise Trump.
Mixed perceptions across party lines
Despite these negative descriptors, 45 per cent of Americans used the word 'honest' to depict Trump, 40 per cent labelled him 'inspiring', and 38 per cent utilised the term 'intelligent'. Predictably, Republicans tended to use more favourable terms, while Democratic voters leaned towards unflattering ones.
Approval rating and controversies
Trump's net approval rating in the latest poll sits at negative 24 per cent, lower than at the same point in both his first term and the last term of Joe Biden. His second term has been marred by controversies, including a broken promise on releasing Epstein files, an immigration crackdown with deadly ICE tactics, and an unpopular war with Iran that has raised living costs.
On immigration, 54 per cent disapprove of Trump's handling, while 39 per cent approve. On race relations, 54 per cent disapprove and 32 per cent approve. On crime, 49 per cent disapprove versus 41 per cent approve.
Trump's claims on crime
Trump urged the Senate to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general, posting on Truth Social that under Blanche, murder is at its lowest level since 1900 with the biggest one-year drop in recorded history. Records show homicides in major US cities fell by over 20 per cent in 2025, the largest single-year percentage decrease. However, the claim of the lowest murder rate since 1900 is hazy, as the FBI standardised data only from 1960. Crime analysts note that before 1960, reporting was inconsistent, making the assertion hard to confirm.
Midterm election implications
Poor public perception of Trump could jeopardise Republican prospects in the November midterm elections. Historically, the party in the White House loses seats in Congress halfway through the presidency. CNN's Harry Enten said on July 20 that Democrats have an average four-point lead on a generic House ballot, but this is a narrower margin than in 2018 and 2006, calling it a 'warning sign'.
