Poll Shows Majority of Americans Disapprove of Trump's Performance

UMass Lowell survey finds growing dissatisfaction with president's policies on Iran, immigration, and Epstein investigation

Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:38pm

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A serene, cinematic painting depicting a lone government building or political figure in a state of quiet contemplation, with warm light and deep shadows creating a pensive, nostalgic mood.The poll results reflect a growing public disillusionment with the political establishment, as Americans grapple with the real-world impacts of the administration's policies.Lowell Today

A new national poll by the Center for Public Opinion at UMass Lowell and YouGov shows that 57% of Americans believe their lives have become more difficult in the past six months, with 67% saying the country is on the wrong track. The poll also found that 65% of respondents think the U.S. is spending too much on the Iran war, 62% would oppose an ICE detention center in their community, and 87% support further criminal investigations into individuals named in the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Why it matters

The poll results indicate growing public discontent with the Trump administration's policies on key issues like foreign affairs, immigration enforcement, and the Epstein scandal. This could have significant political implications as the 2028 presidential election approaches, with the president's approval rating sitting at just 39%.

The details

The online survey of 1,000 American adults found that Trump's approval rating has dropped from 42% in October 2025 to 39% in the latest poll. The poll also showed that 49% of respondents feel a great deal or a lot of frustration with the administration's economic policies, while 45% feel similarly about its foreign policy. On the Iran war, 65% of respondents said the U.S. is spending too much on the conflict. And on immigration, 62% would oppose an ICE detention center in their community, while 56% oppose the deployment of ICE agents to U.S. airports.

  • The poll was conducted from March 26 to March 30, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States.

Jeffrey Epstein

A convicted sex offender whose conduct has been the subject of ongoing investigations.

Bernie Sanders

A U.S. Senator from Vermont who has a net positive favorability rating among poll respondents.

Dolly Parton

A country music superstar who is the only public figure in the survey to receive a favorability rating greater than 50% from Democrats, Republicans, and independents.

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What they’re saying

“The Iran war is an unmitigated public-opinion disaster for the Trump administration. Most wars start out popular, get more popular with strategic victories, but then lose popularity over time. Not only does the war appear to be dragging down Trump's approval rating, but he seems to have skipped the typical surge of popularity for military action and gone straight to the decline.”

— John Cluverius, Director of Survey Research and Associate Professor of Political Science, UMass Lowell

“Immigration continues to divide Americans along familiar partisan lines, but our findings also point to a clear majority of respondents who express opposition with aggressive enforcement measures, including a majority of independents. Even in a polarized environment, there are limits to the policies the American public is willing to support.”

— Rodrigo Castro Cornejo, Associate Director and Assistant Professor of Political Science, UMass Lowell

What’s next

The poll results are likely to shape the political discourse and policy debates leading up to the 2028 presidential election, as candidates seek to address the public's concerns about the Iran war, immigration enforcement, and the Epstein investigation.

The takeaway

This poll highlights the growing dissatisfaction among Americans with the Trump administration's policies, particularly on foreign affairs, immigration, and the handling of the Epstein scandal. The president's approval rating has declined, and a majority of the public believes the country is on the wrong track, presenting potential challenges for the Republican party as the next presidential election approaches.