New UMass Amherst Poll Charts a Nation in Doubt

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A series of results from the latest UMass Amherst Poll shed light on Americans’ views on presidential performance, immigration policy, the state of the economy, and national identity ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary. Topline results and crosstabs are available at www.umass.edu/poll.

President Trump’s Approval Sinks to 33% in New UMass Poll

A new UMass Amherst Poll finds President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 33%, with 62% of Americans now disapproving of his performance. Approval has declined steadily from 44% in April 2025 and 38% in July 2025, driven by deep public dissatisfaction with his handling of inflation (24% approve), tariffs (28%), jobs (30%), and immigration (35%). Nearly two-thirds of Americans (63%) say Trump has handled the war with Iran poorly, and a clear majority believes the government is not being fully transparent about the Epstein investigation. “These latest poll numbers on public approval of President Trump are brutal,” says Jesse Rhodes, professor of political science and co-director of the poll. While 83% of Trump voters still express confidence in their 2024 choice, the poll finds growing reservations within his coalition. “Less than two years into his presidency, and it simply looks as if President Trump is on the outs with the American people,” says poll director Tatishe Nteta.

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New UMass Poll Finds Continued Partisan Division and Erosion of Support for President Trump’s Immigration Policies, Claims

Fifteen months into Trump’s second term, a majority of Americans (54%) now disapprove of his handling of immigration, and just one-third (33%) approve of how ICE is conducting enforcement. The poll finds Americans broadly support the constitutional rights of legal immigrants (approximately three-quarters of respondents), while views on undocumented immigrants remain more divided along partisan lines. “What do Americans think of ICE? Our polling suggests that majorities of Americans hold negative views,” says Tatishe Nteta. Americans widely support peaceful protests against ICE and monitoring of ICE activities, while rejecting violence against officers. “Overall, our polling suggests that the issue of immigration, which was once one of President Trump’s strongest cards, has become a growing liability,” Nteta concludes.

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‘Bleak and Worsening:’ Less than 1 in 4 Americans Hold Positive Views of U.S. Economy, Direction of Country

The latest UMass Amherst Poll finds that only 23% of Americans believe the country is headed in the right direction, while 65% say it is on the wrong track. Fewer than one-quarter of Americans view the economy positively, with 37% rating it as poor, up from 29% in July 2025. “According to voters, the overall picture of the economy is bleak and worsening,” says Raymond La Raja, professor of political science and co-director of the poll. The pessimism cuts across partisan lines, with a growing number of Trump supporters, Republicans, and independents sharing in the concern. On voting rights, a slim majority (51%) supports the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, though support is uneven across racial groups and reflects a notable gender gap. “The poll reveals two distinct visions of electoral access among Americans,” La Raja says.

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Ahead of the US’ 250th Anniversary, New UMass Poll Gauges Views on the Nation and ‘What Makes Us American’

With the United States’ 250th anniversary less than three months away, a new UMass Amherst Poll reveals a deeply divided American public. While three-quarters of respondents say Americans have more in common than what divides them, views on the meaning of the milestone differ sharply: 37% see it as a proud national celebration, 14% as an opportunity to reflect on unfinished work, and 24% say it’s not something they’ve thought much about. Partisan gaps are pronounced, with 80% of Republicans believing the U.S. has succeeded in realizing its founding ideals, while just 42% of African American respondents say those ideals apply to people like them. “We are a nation deeply divided along party lines on nearly everything, including, it seems, the meaning of our national anniversary,” says Alexander Theodoridis, associate professor of political science and co-director of the poll. On what makes someone “American,” military service tops the list across all partisan groups, while factors like race had little effect on respondents’ choices.

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