New Delhi: A new study by the Pew Research Center reveals that a year into United States President Donald Trump’s second term, Americans are already losing confidence in their leader. But perhaps the most surprising was the response by those who support Donald Trump’s Republican Party.
The study, based on a survey of 8,512 adults conducted online or telephonically in the US between 20-26 January, explores Americans’ attitudes about Trump, their views on current immigration enforcement efforts, and policies.
Public confidence in his presidency is eroding — driven not by Democrats, but by Republicans themselves. The latest Pew survey reveals a decline in support for Trump’s policies, leadership, and ethical conduct, with sharp drops among his own party.
That study found that about a quarter of US citizens (27 per cent) supported all or most of Trump’s policies and plans, a sharp decline from his 2025 score of 35 per cent when he took office.
Trump’s immigration policy focuses on strict enforcement, reduced legal immigration and increased border security, with actions including limiting asylum and increasing deportations, impacting both documented and undocumented immigrants.
As controversy over aggressive immigration enforcement grows, nearly half of the American public now expects Trump to be an unsuccessful president in the long run. The study signals a weakening political foundation at a critical point in his presidency.
According to the study, 50 per cent of Americans say the administration’s actions have been worse than they expected.
The survey was in the field when 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, was shot and killed by US Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis on 24 January. His killing provoked massive public outcry and protests in the city. Before Pretti, tensions were already high after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot US-born Renée Good in Minneapolis on 7 January.
The survey covered six key qualities and abilities to serve as president, including Trump’s leadership skills, his mental fitness, physical fitness, choosing advisors, respecting the country’s democratic values and acting ethically while in office.
Also Read: Trump made it clear that US military isn’t global police with National Defence Strategy 2026
Confidence in Trump dips
The study found that it was not Trump’s policies but rather confidence in the leader to act ethically in office that reduced faith in the leader.
The study says that just 21 per cent are extremely or very confident in him, which was 29 per cent in 2025. “Nearly all of that drop has come among Republicans,” the study read.
“The decline in support has come exclusively among Republicans. Last year, 67 per cent Republicans said they supported all or most of Trump’s plans and policies. Today, only 56 per cent do,” the study reads.
The Democrats of the country want to see their leaders pushing back against Trump. The study also found that a majority of Republicans (61 per cent) thought that Trump should stand up to Democratic leaders, a similar range from a year ago.
According to the study, nearly half of Americans (47 per cent) now say Trump will be an unsuccessful president in the long term.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)