President Donald J. Trump’s approval rating has now reportedly inched upward, buoyed by improved standing among independents and moderates, according to a new CBS News/YouGov survey.
The results suggest that despite months of sliding numbers, the president is finding renewed traction with voters outside his core base.
In the poll released Sunday, 44 percent of Americans said they approve of the president’s job performance, up from 42 percent in July.
While modest, the two-point increase halts a downward trend that stretched across much of the year.
Mr. Trump began February with a 53 percent approval rating, but by June his support had fallen to 45 percent.
The latest survey highlights gains in groups often seen as decisive in national elections. Among independents, approval rose from 32 percent in July to 37 percent in September.
Support also grew among self-described moderates, with 36 percent approving of the president, compared with 34 percent in July.
Republicans remain overwhelmingly behind the president, with 91 percent expressing approval in the September poll — up two points since July.
Democrats, meanwhile, continued to oppose Mr. Trump, with just 4 percent approving of his performance, down one point from earlier in the summer.
Ideological divisions held steady: conservatives showed 86 percent support, while liberals remained at just 5 percent.
The findings underscore how Mr. Trump continues to consolidate backing among Republicans while gradually rebuilding strength with independents and center-leaning voters.
The increase is particularly notable given the media focus on political turmoil in Washington, which critics had suggested was eroding the president’s standing.
The survey also sheds light on the issues most important to Americans when evaluating the administration. Immigration remains the top concern, with 30 percent naming “immigration, deportation and border policies” as the most important factor in their judgment of Mr. Trump’s presidency. Another 25 percent pointed to “the economy and inflation prices,” while 17 percent cited “government agencies, programs and spending.”
The emphasis on border and immigration issues mirrors Mr. Trump’s own priorities. His administration has made enforcement and deportation central to its agenda, framing the policies as essential to national security and economic fairness.
The poll indicates that many Americans continue to view immigration as the decisive yardstick for presidential performance, an advantage for Mr. Trump as he doubles down on border control.
Economics, long a central measure of presidential approval, remains close behind. With inflation still a point of public anxiety, the president’s policies on trade, tariffs, and spending are likely to weigh heavily in future surveys.
That immigration outpaced inflation as the leading issue suggests that voters may be rallying to the administration’s enforcement-first approach.
The poll was conducted Sept. 3-5 among 2,385 adults nationwide. It carries a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points.
For Mr. Trump, the latest numbers provide a measure of momentum as he navigates a second term filled with legislative battles and foreign policy challenges. They also highlight the resilience of his political brand: even after months of decline, the president has found room to rebound — with the very voters who will matter most in 2024.
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