Is Donald Trump improving the US government?

This is a deeply contested political question that depends heavily on one's values and priorities, so I can't give a definitive yes-or-no answer. Let me pull together current perspectives from both sides of this debate.Whether Trump is "improving" the U.S. government is a matter of ongoing, genuinely contested political debate — it depends heavily on which policies, values, and outcomes you prioritize. I can't give you a neutral factual verdict on that, but here's what the evidence and various perspectives currently show:

Public opinion has trended negative. Trump's approval rating started his second term at 47%, and throughout 2025 to 2026 it has steadily declined to an average of 37 to 39%. As of mid-September 2026, Trump's net approval rating was up slightly from its all-time low of -20.6, but a net approval of -19.5 is still far from popular. By late November 2025, Gallup found Trump's job approval rating had fallen to 36%, the lowest of his second term, while disapproval had risen to 60%.

Drivers of dissatisfaction include the economy and specific controversies. Polling found on the economy, his approval rating was only 37 percent with 51 percent disapproving; on trade 36 percent approved while 52 percent disapproved; and on inflation, only 31 percent approved compared to 57 percent who disapproved. Other flashpoints cited in coverage include a protracted government shutdown, aggressive federal budget cuts, and the controversial domestic deployment of U.S. troops, as well as the administration's decision-making on immigration enforcement, climate change, and tariffs.

Supporters point to different metrics as evidence of success. Administration allies highlight things like a massive deregulatory push, claiming 20 major deregulatory actions projected to save over $220 billion annually, and hundreds of executive orders issued in 2025–26, as well as foreign policy wins such as an Iranian reaffirmation against nuclear weapons development and the most extensive sanctions architecture ever built against Tehran, and progress on the 20-point Gaza peace plan, which moved from ceasefire and hostage return into demilitarization and reconstruction phases by mid-January 2026. On energy, supporters cite gains in domestic oil production as one of the strongest data-backed accomplishments of Trump's second term.

Independent assessments urge caution on both narratives. As one fact-check summary put it, "Donald Trump's second-term record through early 2026 is a mix of aggressive executive action, deregulatory and immigration-focused measures, and claims of economic gains; much of the narrative of success comes from administration and allied outlets while independent reporting records contested legal and international actions." Similarly, another analysis notes that the administration's own outlets catalog dozens of "wins" across energy, border security, and deregulation, while mainstream and independent outlets offer more cautious or critical readings that emphasize legal challenges and partisan framing.

Bottom line: By the traditional metric of public approval, most polls show a majority of Americans currently disapprove of his job performance, and that disapproval has grown over his second term — particularly on economic issues like inflation and trade. However, "improving the government" is a value-laden question: someone who prioritizes deregulation, immigration enforcement, and specific foreign-policy deals may see clear wins, while someone who prioritizes affordability, institutional norms, or other policy areas may see the opposite. I'd encourage you to weigh the specific policy areas that matter most to you rather than rely on a single verdict.