Donald Trump's Approval Rating Increasing with Democrats: Poll
By Martha McHardy
Donald Trump is seeing a surprising uptick in support from Democratic voters, according to a new poll.
The latest Quantus Insights poll, conducted between May 18-20, shows that Trump is up 4 points among Democrats, with 11 percent approving of his job performance, up from 7 percent in an April poll. His disapproval rating also dropped from 91 to 87 percent.
The poll also showed that Trump's approval rating has received a 5-point boost from Black voters, with 27 percent approving of his job performance, up from 22 percent. His disapproval among this demographic dropped by 2 points to 64 percent. Among every other demographic polled, Trump's approval rating did not change significantly.
Both polls had a margin of error of ± 3.1 percentage points.
Quantus Insights was rated in the top 20 in ActiVote's Most Valuable Pollster (MVP ratings).
Why It Matters
Donald Trump's modest gains among Democrats and Black voters—who traditionally lean Democratic—signal subtle but potentially consequential shifts in the political landscape.
This dynamic not only strengthens Trump's hand as he advances his second-term agenda but also signals a daunting challenge for Democrats heading into the 2026 midterms.
What To Know
But while the latest Quantus poll showed concerning signs for the Democrats, other recent polls have shown Trump's approval rating among Democrats increasing marginally, well within the margin of error.
Such was the case in the most recent Civiqs and YouGov/Economist polls, where Trump's approval rating increased from 5 percent to 6 percent.
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President Donald Trump speaks during a Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission Event in the East Room of the White House on May 22 in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin/AP
But other polls conducted back in April had suggested that Trump is still more popular than his opposing party.
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A CNN/SSRS poll, conducted April 17—24 among 1,678 adults, showed that when respondents were asked who would be doing a better job as president, 45 percent chose Trump, while 43 percent chose Kamala Harris. "This looks a lot like the election result," CNN pollster Harry Enten noted. The 2024 election saw Trump beat Harris in the popular vote by two points, with around 50 percent of the vote. That would suggest that voters' support for Trump has not shifted all that much since November.
An ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll, conducted between April 18 to 22 among 3,634 respondents, brought more bad news for the Democrats, showing that when respondents were asked who they trusted more to deal with the U.S.'s main problems, 40 percent chose Trump, compared to just 32 percent who chose Democrats in Congress.
And in a Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted between April 25-27 among 1,029 adults, the Republicans held a significant advantage over Democrats on two of the most pressing issues for voters: immigration and the economy.
When asked which party has the better plan to address immigration, respondents favored the GOP by a wide 19-point margin. On the economy, Republicans also lead by 9 points. That is despite recent polls showing Trump deep underwater on both issues over the past few weeks after he announced his "Liberation Day" tariffs and became embroiled in a dispute with the Supreme Court over the mistaken deportation of Maryland resident Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia.
Mike Nellis, a Democratic strategist and former adviser to Kamala Harris, told Newsweek at the time that recent polling reflected lingering dissatisfaction with Joe Biden's presidency, which he said has damaged the Democratic brand. "People were pretty unhappy," Nellis said, and Democrats now need to "earn people's trust back" rather than rely on Trump's unpopularity.
But Quantus' poll suggests the Democrats are struggling at that task. 36 percent of Democrats polled said they believe President Biden's health problems were downplayed during his presidency in order to mislead the public. There is no evidence of this, but it was recently revealed that Biden was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
Meanwhile, 58 percent of Democrats polled said they do not believe Biden had the mental and cognitive fitness required to serve effectively as president during his time in office.
It comes at a time when polls have shown that following their 2024 election loss, the Democrats are more unpopular than ever.
According to an NBC News poll from March 7-11, 55 percent of respondents said they had a negative view of the Democratic Party, while 27 percent said they had a positive perception. That is the lowest level recorded since NBC News began asking the question in 1990.
There was also evidence of dissatisfaction with the party from its base, with 20 percent of Democratic voters viewing it negatively, twice as high as the figure for Republicans who had a negative view of their party.
The survey suggested that this may be because Democratic voters want their party to take a tougher position in Congress. Among Democratic voters, 65 percent said they wanted their congressional representatives to "stick to their positions even if that means not being able to get things done in Washington," while 32 percent said they should "make compromises with Trump to gain consensus on legislation."
The poll largely reflects the debates occurring in the Democratic party right now in light of their 2024 defeat.
Some feel that in order to get back on track and win back the House in the 2026 midterms, the party should take a more bipartisan approach to politics, and work with Trump to pass legislation, while others feel that doing so will alienate Democratic voters who see Trump as a toxic figure.
In Quantus' April survey, 49 percent said they Democratic party should respond to Trump by resisting or opposing him, while 41 percent said they believe the party should work with Trump.
The poll also showed that 35 percent have an unfavorable view of the Democratic party, while 65 percent view the party favorably.
"While a majority remain supportive, the one-third unfavorable share signals underlying discontent that could impact unity and engagement," Quantus Insights said on its website.
Trump's Approval Rating
Trump's rising approval rating among Democrats comes as polls have shown his approval ratings ticking up in recent days. That includes Newsweek's tracker, which shows that Trump's approval rating currently stands at 46 percent, while 50 percent disapprove. Earlier this month, his approval rating stood at 44 percent, while his disapproval was firmly in the 50s.
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The latest Insider Advantage poll, conducted between May 17 and 19 among 1,000 likely voters, gave Trump a net approval rating of +11 points, with 55 percent approving and 44 percent disapproving. That was up from a net approval rating of +2 points in early May, when 46 percent approved and 44 percent disapproved.
And the latest Morning Consult poll also showed a surge in Trump's approval rating, with 48 percent approving and 50 percent disapproving, giving the president a net approval rating of -2 points, up from -7 in early May when 45 percent approved and 52 percent disapproved. That is his highest approval rating since mid-March.
Meanwhile, the latest J.L. Partners/Daily Mail poll conducted between May 13 and 14 among 1,003 registered voters put Trump's approval rating at 50 percent, up 5 points from 45 percent in April.
Poll Date Approve Disapprove
Rasmussen May 22 49 49
Quantus May 18-20 48 48
Civiqs May 17-20 47 52
American Research Group May 17-20 41 55
Insider Advantage May 17-19 55 44
Morning Consult May 16-19 48 50
YouGov/Economist May 16-19 43 51
Reuters/Ipsos May 16-18 42 52
Navigator Research May 15-18 44 54
HarrisX May 14-15 47 48
However, the overarching trend in the polls is one of stability, with some showing that his ratings have not substantially changed beyond a 1- or 2-point dip—within the margin of error.
That includes the most recent Navigator Research poll, conducted between May 15-18 among 1,376 registered voters, which showed Trump's approval rating stands at 44 percent, while 54 percent disapprove. That is unchanged from April.
Similarly, in Quantus' poll, Trump's approval rating stood at 48 percent, while 48 percent also disapproved. That is unchanged from a poll conducted earlier in May, and an April poll also showed his approval rating stood at 48 percent, while his disapproval rating was 2 points higher at 50 percent.
Marquette's most recent poll also showed his approval rating unchanged from March, while an American Research Group poll, conducted between March 17 and 20 among 1,100 adults, put Trump's approval rating at 41 percent, down just 2 points from 43 percent in April. His disapproval grew from 53 percent to 55 percent.
Meanwhile, a YouGov/Economist poll conducted from May 16 to 19 pegged Trump's approval at 43 percent, up 1 point from 42 percent the previous week, while disapproval ticked down slightly from 52 percent to 51 percent. The same pattern occurred in the latest Civiqs poll, conducted between May 17 and 20 among 1,018 registered voters.
Thomas Gift, an associate professor of political science and director of the Centre on U.S. Politics at University College London, told Newsweek that the stability in Trump's polling numbers is "emblematic of a deeply polarized electorate."
"His floor of support has proven incredibly durable over time, even amid huge major controversies and unflattering media coverage," he added.
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How Trump's Approval Rating Compares To First Term
The RealClearPolitics tracker shows that on May 23, 2017, Trump's approval rating was 40 percent, while his disapproval rating was 55 percent. This gave him a net approval rating of -15 points, making Trump more popular now than at the same point in his first stint in the Oval Office.
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How Trump's Approval Rating Compares To Biden's
Trump's 46 percent approval rating is lower than that of former President Joe Biden at the same point in his presidency. On May 23, 2021, Biden stood at 54 percent, with a disapproval rating of 42 percent, according to RealClearPolitics.
While Trump began his second term with his highest approval rating, according to Gallup's first poll of Trump's second term, conducted between January 21 and 27, he was still less popular than any president since 1953 at the start of a term and the only one to begin with a sub-50 percent approval rating. Gallup said Biden started his first term with a 57 percent approval rating.
And, according to data compiled from Gallup by The American Presidency Project, Trump ranks far below other recently elected presidents after 100 days, dating to Dwight Eisenhower, who had an approval rating of 73 percent.
Other recently elected presidents had higher approval ratings at the 100-day mark, including John F. Kennedy, 83 percent; Richard Nixon, 62 percent; Jimmy Carter, 63 percent; Ronald Reagan, 68 percent; George H.W. Bush, 56 percent; Bill Clinton, 55 percent; George W. Bush, 62 percent; and Barack Obama, 65 percent.
What Happens Next
Trump's approval rating could fluctuate in the coming weeks, depending on the outcome of key events, including critical negotiations in the Russia-Ukraine war, the evolving tariff situation and concerns about a recession.
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