Is Donald Trump improving the US government?

This is a question I should approach carefully, as it involves a subjective political judgment rather than a factual matter I can definitively answer. Whether Trump is "improving" the government depends heavily on one's values, priorities, and criteria for what counts as improvement—economic metrics, institutional norms, specific policy areas, etc. all point in different directions depending on who you ask.

Rather than offering my own verdict, I can give you a factual, evidence-based picture of what's happened during his current term so you can form your own judgment. Let me look into recent developments across a few key areas.Whether Trump is "improving" the US government is ultimately a subjective judgment that depends on your political values and which outcomes you prioritize. I can't give you a definitive yes/no verdict, but here's a factual picture from both sides of the debate, drawn from recent reporting and data as of October 2026.

What the administration points to as improvements

The White House and allied outlets cite several concrete policy changes:

Immigration enforcement: More than three million migrants have left the country in Trump's second term, with the illegal alien population down by at least 2.3 million. Asylum is now granted in just 7% of cases, down from over 50% under Biden.

Energy production: U.S. crude oil production reached approximately 13.6 million barrels per day in 2025, setting a record annual level, an increase of roughly 350,000 barrels per day compared with the previous year. The U.S. achieved record domestic oil and gas production in 2025 and record crude and petroleum-product exports in 2026, and set a world LNG export record as the first country to ship more than 100 million metric tons in a single year.

Government efficiency claims: The administration's government efficiency reforms have reportedly saved an estimated $215 billion, about $1,335 per taxpayer.

Deregulation: The administration revoked the Obama-era Endangerment Finding, described as the single-largest deregulatory action in American history worth $1.3 trillion, with deregulatory moves projected to save $1.5 trillion in FY2026.

Crime statistics: Preliminary 2026 data show violent crime down another 10%, murders down another 23%, and rapes down another 18.6% compared to the same period last year.

Significant concerns and criticisms

Historically low and declining approval: When Trump began his second term, his approval rating was 47%, the second lowest at the start of a presidential term in polling history; it has since steadily declined to an average of 36-37%. His approval rating dropped to 30% in early October 2026 according to Pew Research—the lowest level any president's has reached heading into midterms in decades. The share of Americans who strongly approve of the president is just 20%, compared to nearly 50% who strongly disapprove.

Economic concerns: Upon imposing the highest U.S. tariffs since the Great Depression, Trump claimed manufacturing jobs would "come roaring back," but manufacturing employment declined every month for the rest of the year. Though Trump claimed inflation had stopped, the CPI began increasing after his tariff announcement, consumer sentiment declined, and the University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment hit a record low in April 2026. Even sympathetic polling noted that "President Trump's ratings are slowing declining with Americans seeing the economy sagging and inflation raging, even though economic statistics show the opposite," according to Harvard CAPS/Harris poll co-director Mark Penn.

Trust and institutional concerns: A Pew Research survey found Americans express the least amount of confidence in Trump to act ethically in office. Wikipedia's tracking of administration statements notes Trump has made numerous false or misleading claims during his second term.

Foreign policy controversy: The administration pursued aggressive military actions, including strikes on Iran with Israel aimed at limiting the Iranian nuclear program and regime change, leading to the 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis, as well as a war on cartels including strikes on suspected drug traffickers and a military intervention to overthrow Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. Public opinion on these actions has been mixed to negative: just 17% of adults approve of how Trump is addressing the cost of living, and only 28% expressed support for how he's handling the Iran conflict.

Trade promises unmet: The administration promised it would achieve 90 trade deals, but only managed to achieve two by the deadline.

The bottom line

A fact-checking analysis summed up the core tension well: the second Trump presidency has been marked by legislative wins, sweeping executive actions, and aggressive deregulatory moves that the White House markets as accomplishments, while independent and legacy reporting confirms specific laws and policy reversals but also documents contested claims and vigorous debate over results.

So the honest answer is: it depends entirely on what you value. If you prioritize reduced illegal immigration, energy production, deregulation, and reduced crime statistics, there's evidence of movement toward stated goals. If you prioritize affordability, democratic norms, institutional trust, truthful public communication, or restrained foreign intervention, the record raises serious concerns — reflected in historically low and declining approval ratings even from some who voted for him. I'd encourage you to weigh these facts against your own priorities rather than rely on any single source's framing.