A new Emerson College Polling national survey of U.S. voters reveals that President Donald Trump maintains a 45% job approval rating, while his disapproval has nudged up one point to 48%.
The poll, conducted on October 13-14, 2025, with a sample of 1,000 active registered voters, shows a notable shift in public opinion regarding the President’s handling of the war between Israel and Hamas following the recent ceasefire deal.
Approval Jumps on Israel-Hamas War
Following the Gaza ceasefire deal, 47% of voters approve of Trump’s handling of the conflict, compared to 34% who disapprove. This represents a significant reversal from the Emerson 100-day poll, where only 30% approved and 46% disapproved.
According to Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, the shift is driven by independents, who now approve 43% to 38%. In April, independents disapproved 43% to 25%. Republican approval remains strong at 80% to 7%, while Democrats disapprove 57% to 19%.
“While voters’ attitudes on Trump’s handling of the war between Israel and Hamas have shifted, it doesn’t appear to have impacted his overall job approval,” Kimball noted. “Instead, the president’s disapproval increased by a point since August.”
Voters remain split on the success of Trump’s second term, with 50% viewing it as a success and 50% as a failure. A majority (54%) also do not think Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his actions in Israel and Gaza, while 38% think he does.
Views on Other Foreign Leaders and Conflicts
On the war between Russia and Ukraine, half of voters (50%) disapprove of Trump’s handling, with 30% approving. Disapproval has dropped two points and approval has increased three points since the 100-day poll.
Voters hold mixed views of international leaders:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has a 42% favorable opinion and 34% unfavorable.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a 30% favorable rating and 46% unfavorable.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin is highly unfavorable, with only 6% favorable and 74% unfavorable.
Economy Remains Top Concern
The economy is overwhelmingly named the top issue facing the United States (31%), followed by threats to democracy (23%) and immigration (13%).
Voter sentiment on the economy is largely negative:
- 52% disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, a three-point increase in disapproval since the 100-day poll, while 37% approve.
- 40% of voters say their household finances are worse off than a year ago, compared to 30% better off and 30% about the same.
Kimball highlighted generational differences, stating, “Majorities of voters under 30 and in their 40s say they are worse off financially than a year ago, and these groups are most likely to name the economy as the top issue facing the country. Voters over 70 are more concerned about threats to democracy, at 39%, than any other age group.”
Government Shutdown and Future Elections
Nearly half of voters (49%) report that the current government shutdown is having “no real impact” on their household, while 30% report “a minor impact.”
Looking ahead, the 2026 Midterm Elections generic congressional ballot shows a tight race, with 44% planning to vote for the Democratic candidate and 43% for the Republican. In a hypothetical 2028 presidential matchup between Governor Gavin Newsom and Vice President JD Vance, Vance holds a slight edge with 46% support to Newsom’s 45%.
“The 2026 congressional ballot and the hypothetical 2028 matchup between Vance and Newsom also remain unchanged, suggesting a polarized electorate where individual issues may not be enough to sway overall opinion,” Kimball concluded.
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