After Donald Trump began his second term, many expected his approval ratings to climb, fueled by a loyal base that has supported him for nearly a decade. Instead, newly released polling data suggests public opinion has shifted in unexpected ways. Several surveys indicate that voters across the political spectrum are reassessing Trump’s leadership sooner than anticipated.

A Pew Research Center survey of 8,512 U.S. adults found that just 34 percent were extremely or very confident in Trump’s leadership. His overall approval rating now stands at 37 percent, down from 40 percent last fall. Notably, confidence declined across six key leadership traits, with the sharpest drop coming from Republicans.

When asked to compare performance with expectations, 50 percent said Trump had done worse than expected, while only 21 percent said better. Support for his policies fell from 35 to 27 percent, driven entirely by Republicans. Additional polls showed rising concerns over ethics, immigration policy, and fitness for office. Trump dismissed the results as “fake” and accused major media outlets of publishing fraudulent polls, renewing his long-running attacks on the credibility of national surveys.