Trump approval ratings high after first few weeks in office

After the first few weeks of his second term, President Donald Trump has a net positive approval rating among the American public, according to a new CBS News poll. The poll found that 53 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s job performance, while 47 percent disapprove. This marks a shift from his first term, during which he held a net negative approval rating for most of his presidency.

Respondents described Trump with words such as “tough,” “energetic,” “focused,” and “effective,” with a majority agreeing that these terms accurately represent him. Additionally, 70 percent of Americans said Trump is fulfilling the promises he made during his campaign.

On immigration, one of Trump’s central campaign issues, 59 percent of Americans support his administration’s efforts to deport illegal immigrants. Meanwhile, 64 percent approve of his decision to deploy US troops to the southern border, which he did upon taking office after declaring the border crisis a national emergency.

Regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, a majority of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the situation. However, when asked about Trump’s comments regarding US involvement in the development of Gaza, opinions were more divided. 47 percent opposed the idea of the US taking over Gaza, 40 percent were unsure, and only 13 percent supported it.

Economic concerns remain significant as Trump continues to promote the idea of sweeping tariffs on several countries including US allies. Americans’ views on tariffs varied based on the country involved, with most favoring tariffs on Chinese goods but opposing them on imports from Mexico, Canada, and Europe.

Americans also seem divided on Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been tasked with reviewing federal agencies and cutting spending to increase efficiency. The poll found that 23 percent believe Musk and DOGE should have “a lot” of influence over government spending, while 28 percent said “some.” Meanwhile, 18 percent said “not much,” and 31 percent said “none.”

The poll surveyed 2,175 US adults between February 5-7.