President Donald Trump’s net approval rating on the national debt dropped to −19 this week, marking his lowest rating on any policy issue during his second term, according to new polling data.
The Morning Consult survey shows that 36% of voters approve of his handling of the national debt, while 55% disapprove. The metric reflects a 30-point decline on the issue since January 2025, with the steepest losses recorded among voters who supported him in the 2024 presidential election.
The downturn came immediately after federal reports confirmed the U.S. national debt crossed the $40 trillion mark.
The $40 trillion threshold was reached ahead of previous Congressional Budget Office forecasts, which had projected the benchmark for 2028. The acceleration occurred in part after the Supreme Court struck down proposed tariffs intended to generate offsetting revenue.
Among voters who backed Trump in 2024, net approval for his handling of the debt has fallen by 39 points over his term. While these voters favored his approach by 74 points when he took office, that margin has contracted to 35 points.
By comparison, Democratic voters have maintained a net approval rating near −64 on the issue over the past year. Voters aged 65 and older, who were evenly split at the start of the term, now register at −33.
The broader public sentiment reflects growing concern over fiscal policy. Deficit reduction is now cited as a top priority by 54% of Republican voters, placing it higher among the party base than among the overall electorate. Across the broader national electorate, congressional Democrats maintain a narrow advantage over Republicans on trust to manage the debt.
Trump’s overall job approval rating sits at 43%, with 54% disapproving, placing him 11 points underwater. Across the policy areas tracked in the survey, the administration currently holds no net-positive ratings. Net approval on national security stands even, while views on immigration stand at −3 points.
In congressional polling, Democrats hold trust advantages on 11 of 13 major policy issues tested. These include double-digit margins on health care (D+16), Medicare and Social Security (D+16), and housing (D+15), along with narrower leads on the economy (D+5), energy (D+6), and taxes (D+4).
Congressional Republicans retain a 2-point advantage on national security and immigration, their narrowest margin recorded since Trump began his second term.
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