New CNN Poll Reveals Public Discontent with Trump as He Prepares to Address Congress

According to a recent CNN poll by SSRS, many Americans hold a negative view of Donald Trump’s presidency as he prepares for his first major address to Congress since returning to office. The poll shows that more people disapprove of his performance than approve.

Overall, 52% of respondents disapprove of Trump, while 48% approve. This is similar to a survey conducted in mid-February. Notably, this poll didn’t capture reactions to a heated discussion between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that occurred shortly after.

Trump still enjoys strong support among Republicans, with 90% approving of his leadership. In contrast, 90% of Democrats disapprove, and nearly 60% of independents also give him a thumbs down—41% approve and 59% disapprove. This marks a slight increase in disapproval since February, when 56% of independents expressed dissatisfaction.

Interestingly, Trump’s approval rating of 48% before his address is higher than his rating before a similar speech in 2017. Historically, his speeches in Congress have had little impact on his approval ratings, often changing by only a few percentage points. Currently, a greater number of Americans believe his policies are taking the country in the wrong direction (45%) compared to those who feel they are on the right track (39%).

Many citizens think Trump hasn’t focused enough on major issues facing the country. About 52% feel this way, while only 40% believe he has the right priorities. Even among his supporters, 12% doubt his focus on the right issues, and 18% of Republicans agree that he has missed the mark. Less than 10% of Democrats see him as addressing important problems.

Regarding demographics, Trump’s approval remains low among younger adults, Hispanics, and Black Americans. Among women, 57% disapprove, compared to 42% who approve. However, he maintains over 60% approval among White voters without college degrees.

Younger Americans, especially those aged 18 to 34, are particularly critical. About 51% believe Trump is leading the country in the wrong direction, and 61% feel he isn’t focusing on serious problems. Support is also low among Black (14% approval) and Hispanic adults (31% approval), with many from these groups stressing that his priorities are not aligned with their concerns.

Many opinions on his policies remain uncertain; roughly a quarter of independents and young adults do not express a clear opinion on how Trump’s proposals might impact the nation.

The CNN poll was conducted from February 24 to 28, involving a national sample of 2,212 adults. The survey included online responses and telephone interviews, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points.

This report was contributed to by CNN’s Ariel Edwards-Levy and Edward Wu.