Is Donald Trump improving the US government?
White House and allied sources present record achievements in crime, energy and deregulation, while polling sources show record-low approval and critics flag legal and policy problems.
This is a subjective political question where reasonable people disagree based on their values and priorities. Rather than offering my own opinion, let me search for current information to give you a balanced picture of different perspectives on Trump's performance.Whether Trump is "improving" the government is a matter of political perspective, and the picture is genuinely mixed depending on what metrics and values you prioritize. Here's what the evidence shows from both sides:
Public Opinion: Largely Negative and Declining
Polling throughout 2026 shows a consistent downward trend. As of mid-October, Trump hit an all-time approval rating low of net -23.9, though he bounced back slightly to -22.4. His ratings on key issues are particularly weak: net approval of how he's handled trade (-28.7) and the economy (-29.9) are both near their all-time lows.
The economy is the dominant concern. By late September/early October, Trump had a 26% approval rating on the economy, and just 17% approved of his handling of the cost of living, with 65% blaming Trump for persistently high costs. Notably, even his base is souring somewhat—the share of Republicans who strongly approve of his job performance dropped to 43%, from 52% in January.
What Supporters Point To
The administration and allied outlets highlight significant policy wins, particularly on immigration and crime:
What Critics Point To
Independent assessments are considerably more cautious. One nonpartisan summary notes: 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.
Critics specifically flag:
Bottom Line
There's a real split between administration-claimed achievements (crime reduction, energy production, deregulation, border enforcement) and public/independent assessment (record-low approval, especially on the economy and cost of living, which polls consistently show as voters' top concern). Whether specific actions count as "improvement" often depends on whether you weigh deregulation and border enforcement positively, or weigh economic performance, legal challenges, and health-policy controversies more heavily. I'd encourage you to look at the specific policy areas you care most about rather than seeking a single verdict, since this is fundamentally a question of values as much as facts.
Citations (14)
- Trump Approval Rating: Latest Polls
Source excerpt: “#### 🕒 The latest on Trump’s approval rating ##### Updated October 15, 2026 Over the weekend, Donald Trump hit yet another all-time approval rating lo...”
statistic, article, points to no. Claim: Trump hit an all-time approval rating low of net -23.9 in mid-October, bouncing back slightly to -22.4.
- Trump Approval Rating: Latest Polls
Source excerpt: “Things are also looking bearish for Trump on the issues. Net approval of how he’s handled trade (-28.7) and the economy (-29.9) are both near their al...”
statistic, article, points to no. Claim: Net approval on trade (-28.7) and the economy (-29.9) is near all-time lows.
- Trump’s Approval Rating Stagnates At Record Low 32% In Latest Poll
Source excerpt: “Oct. 1 Trump had a 26% approval rating on the economy in an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs research poll of 2,140 U.S. adults taken S...”
statistic, article, points to no. Claim: Trump had a 26% approval rating on the economy in an AP-NORC poll; 17% approved on cost of living.
- CNN Poll: Trump’s approval rating on the economy hits a new low
Source excerpt: “The share of Republicans who strongly approve of his job performance has dropped to 43%, from 52% in January. ”
statistic, article, points to no. Claim: Share of Republicans who strongly approve of his job performance dropped to 43% from 52% in January.
- President Trump Delivers Historic Results for the American People in Under Two Years
Source excerpt: “The U.S. murder rate fell to a historic low in 2025 — the lowest level in 125 years — after the largest annual drop in violent crime in American histo...”
statistic, official document, points to yes. Claim: U.S. murder rate fell to a historic low in 2025, lowest in 125 years, after the largest annual drop in violent crime.
- President Trump Delivers Historic Results for the American People in Under Two Years
Source excerpt: “Preliminary data show the collapse continuing in the first half of 2026, with violent ... # President Trump Delivers Historic Results for the America...”
evidence, official document, points to yes. Claim: Preliminary 2026 data show the crime decline continuing.
- President Trump Delivers Historic Results for the American People in Under Two Years
Source excerpt: “## Unleashing American Energy Dominance and Crushing Red Tape - The U.S. achieved record domestic oil and gas production in 2025 and record crude and ...”
evidence, official document, points to yes. Claim: U.S. achieved record domestic oil and gas production and a world LNG export record in 2025.
- 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...”
evidence, article, points to yes. Claim: White House claims 20 major deregulatory actions projected to save over $220 billion annually.
- Trump accomplishments 24-26
Source excerpt: “The administration publicly prioritized expanded oil and gas leasing, approval of advanced nuclear projects, and rolling back environmental programs d...”
evidence, article, points to yes. Claim: Administration prioritized expanded oil and gas leasing, nuclear approvals and rolling back environmental programs.
- What Were Donald Trump’s Major Accomplishments From 20...
Source excerpt: “Supporters argue this pace delivered policy shifts on immigration, education, energy, and “government efficiency,” while critics warn that many initia...”
attribution, article, neutral. Claim: Supporters credit policy shifts while critics warn many initiatives were legally challenged and rapid rule changes cause regulatory gaps.
- Trump Administration Accomplishments: October 2025
Source excerpt: “In January 2026, HHS reconstituted the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), while the CDC narrowed the universally recommended childho...”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: CDC narrowed the universally recommended childhood immunization schedule from 17 diseases to 11, ending universal newborn hepatitis B recommendation.
- Trump Administration Accomplishments: October 2025
Source excerpt: “This drew sharp criticism from public health and medical organizations that argue the changes lack scientific consensus, while MAHA supporters frame i...”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: Vaccine changes drew sharp criticism from public health and medical organizations arguing they lack scientific consensus.
- What Were Donald Trump’s Major Accomplishments From 20...
Source excerpt: “Foreign policy and contested uses of force** Multiple sources report aggressive international moves attributed to the administration, including letha...”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: Lethal Caribbean strikes, Venezuela operations and Iran actions are controversial and raise legal questions.
- Trump-Carlson feud
Source excerpt: “In April 2026, Carlson apologized on his podcast for having "misled" supporters into voting for Trump, calling the moment a cause for personal torment...”
evidence, reference entry, points to no. Claim: Tucker Carlson apologized in April 2026 for having misled supporters into voting for Trump.