Is Donald Trump improving the US government?
This is a subjective and politically contested question that reasonable people disagree on, so I can't give a definitive yes/no answer. But I can share some factual, current information about his administration's actions and how they're being evaluated, so you can form your own view. Let me look up recent data.This is a matter of significant political debate, and there's no single objective answer — it depends heavily on your values and priorities. Here's a balanced picture based on current data and reporting (as of September 2026):
Public Opinion Is Largely Negative Right Now
Polling averages show approval around 40% and disapproval around 57%, with poll averages showing a net approval of roughly -21.7 points. Nate Silver's tracker notes Trump's net approval rating is up slightly from its all-time low of -20.6, though still far from popular at -19.5. Notably, at this point in his presidency Trump's approval is lower than it was at the same point in his first term, and also lower than Biden's was at the equivalent point.
Even support among his base has softened somewhat — one poll found Trump's approval rating among Republicans has declined from 89% to 75% since April 2025, and his approval rating among 2024 Trump voters is down 10 points. The economy and cost of living appear to be the dominant driver of dissatisfaction: cost of living is the top midterm concern for voters, and Trump gets poor ratings on economic handling — 71% disapproval versus 22% approval.
What Supporters Point To
The administration and allies cite:
What Critics Point To
Bottom Line
Whether Trump is "improving" government depends on which metrics and values you prioritize — deregulation and immigration enforcement vs. inflation, global conflict levels, and institutional norms. Right now, a majority of Americans in most polls disapprove of his job performance, largely driven by economic concerns, but his administration touts significant policy wins on trade, energy, and deregulation. I'd encourage looking at both the White House's own accomplishments page and independent trackers like Ballotpedia to weigh the specifics yourself.
Citations (12)
- Opinion polling on the second Trump presidency
Source excerpt: “| Aggregator | Updated | Approve | Disapprove | Unsure/Other | Lead | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | Ballotpedia | September 12, 2026 | 40.0% | 57.0% | 3...”
- Trump Approval Rating: Latest Polls | Silver Bulletin
Source excerpt: “Sep 16, 2026 · ∙ Paid · 2,311 · 338 · 615 · Share · Donald Trump’s net approval rating is up slightly from its all time low of -20.6. Still, a net app...”
- Trump Approval Rating: Latest Polls | Silver Bulletin
Source excerpt: “This far into his first term, Trump was all the way up at -13.0, while Joe Biden was at net -11.3 at the same point in his presidency. ”
- Trump Approval Rating: Sinks To Low Points In 2 Latest Polls
Source excerpt: “Trump’s approval rating among Republicans has declined from 89% to 75% since April 2025, and his approval rating among 2024 Trump voters is down 10 po...”
- Trump Approval Rating: Sinks To Low Points In 2 Latest Polls
Source excerpt: “The poll reaffirmed the cost of living as the most important issue in the upcoming midterms, with a plurality (47%) saying it’s their top concern, whi...”
- Trump touts accomplishments in first year, Illinois critics point to failures
Source excerpt: “Union leaders protest Trump administration’s freeze on child care funds The president moved quickly, scoring a Gaza peace deal abroad and winning appr...”
- Trump accomplishments 24-26
Source excerpt: “The White House and allied congressional offices point to a massive deregulatory push and a high volume of directives—claiming 20 major deregulatory a...”
- What Were Donald Trump’s Major Accomplishments From 20...
Source excerpt: “The administration moved fast: public records and trackers report hundreds of executive instruments in the first year — Ballotpedia and the Federal Re...”
- Trump touts accomplishments in first year, Illinois critics point to failures
Source excerpt: “President Trump also promised to end inflation, but he has not. ”
- Trump 2.0 Enters 2026 in Full Force | Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Source excerpt: “According to the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), there were more state-based armed conflicts in 2024 than at any point in the past seven decades...”
- What Were Donald Trump’s Major Accomplishments From 20...
Source excerpt: “The administration’s own outlets and sympathetic outlets catalog dozens of “wins” across energy, border security, deregulation, and health-data initia...”
- What Were Donald Trump’s Major Accomplishments From 20...
Source excerpt: “Assessing “accomplishments 24–26” requires weighing official claims against third‑party verification: many specific policy changes and funding actions...”