President Donald Trump, in his second term, is promoting a vision of America that is increasingly harsh, exclusionary, and out of sync with the values of most voters. Despite the administration’s attempts to paint a rosy picture of unprecedented success, the reality presented by public opinion polls tells a vastly different story: Trump remains deeply unpopular, and his policies are increasingly rejected by the broader American public.
Inside the White House, Trump and his closest allies appear to be living in an alternate universe. They regularly tout the administration’s achievements as historic, referring to the current period as one of unparalleled success. Trump himself took to Truth Social over the weekend, flooding his feed with boastful messages and AI-generated videos, including bizarre images of former President Barack Obama being arrested. His posts included slogans like “6 MONTHS OF WINNING,” portraying a self-image that is more fantasy than fact.
Stephen Miller, Trump’s influential and controversial advisor, echoed these sentiments on X (formerly Twitter), claiming, “The most incredible opening 6 months to an American presidency in history.” Miller, known for his central role in the administration’s aggressive immigration policies, may view the crackdown on migrants as a badge of honor, but the American public appears far less impressed.
The numbers speak volumes. A CBS News poll conducted between July 16 and July 18 revealed that 58% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s performance as president. Only 42% expressed approval—a dramatic 11-point drop since February. Gallup’s data further undercuts the administration’s self-praise, showing that Trump’s approval rating in June—the sixth month of his second term—was lower than that of any modern president at the same point in their presidency.
Polls from other major organizations—including the New York Times, CNN, and YouGov—consistently show Trump’s approval stuck in the low 40s, if not worse. These are not the numbers of a president who is “winning.” They are the signs of a presidency increasingly disconnected from the public it is meant to serve. Yet for a leader more concerned with self-aggrandizement than consensus-building, these figures may seem irrelevant.
Even on issues where Trump once held strong support, his favorability is slipping. Immigration, a cornerstone of Trump’s agenda, has seen a significant shift in public opinion. The same CBS News poll found that only 44% of Americans approve of Trump’s immigration policies, down 10 points since March. A Gallup poll released on July 11 painted an even bleaker picture: just 35% approve of his handling of immigration, while a striking 62% disapprove. Nearly half of respondents—45%—said they “strongly disapprove.”
These numbers suggest that Americans are increasingly uncomfortable with the administration’s tactics. Images and reports of masked ICE agents forcibly removing immigrants, detaining them in facilities surrounded by hostile conditions, and deporting long-standing community members have sparked public outrage.
Once a more divided topic, immigration is now viewed by a vast majority—79% according to Gallup—as a positive force in the country. In fact, the number of Americans who think immigration should be reduced has dropped dramatically, from 55% last year to just 30% now.
The public’s appetite for harsh border measures is also diminishing. Support for hiring more border patrol agents has declined by 17 percentage points over the past year. Moreover, only 38% of Americans now favor mass deportation of undocumented immigrants—a sharp contrast to the administration’s aggressive deportation agenda.
The anxiety is not just abstract. A recent Pew Research Center study found that nearly a quarter of U.S. adults (23%) worry that they or someone they care about could be deported. These concerns reflect the real-life consequences of Trump’s policies on American families, many of whom are now living in fear.
Trump’s reaction to declining approval and growing criticism has been to double down on self-promotion. His social media accounts have become a nonstop stream of delusional praise, authoritarian posturing, and misinformation. Rather than acknowledging the public’s dissatisfaction, Trump appears increasingly detached from the truth. His unwillingness to confront reality or engage with legitimate criticism has only deepened concerns about his leadership.
The numbers don’t lie—but Trump’s portrayal of his presidency often does. For a leader obsessed with loyalty and optics, the stark disapproval revealed by polling data is likely a blow to his ego. Still, rather than shifting course or listening to the concerns of everyday Americans, he continues to isolate himself in a bubble of denial and propaganda.
Americans deserve a president who recognizes the complexity of the challenges the country faces and responds with empathy and honesty. As Trump’s approval continues to fall and his policies grow more extreme, it becomes increasingly clear that his vision of America is one many voters do not recognize—or accept.