A majority of US adults believe Donald Trump is moving the country in the wrong direction during his second presidency, according to a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll released the day before his State of the Union address.
Fifty-five percent of adults feel that Trump is changing the country for the worse, a 13-point increase from around the same time of his first term, the survey conducted from 27 to 30 January found. The figure also rose four points since April 2025.
Unsurprisingly, opinions split along party lines. Ninety percent of Democrats think the country is worse off than a year ago, while 82% of Republicans believe things have improved.
Faith in the democratic system has also declined. In March 2025, only 43% of US adults agreed that the system of checks and balances between the president, Congress, and courts is working well. A separate Pew Research Center survey in January found that just 27% of adults supported all or most of Trump's policies and plans.
The president has lost some support even among Republicans. In February 2025, 75% of Republicans or Republican-leaning adults thought he had the mental fitness for the job, down from 66% in January. The number who believe he acts ethically in office also dropped from 55% to 42% over the same period.
