Trump’s Approval Tanks?
President Trump’s approval rating ticked down in a new Reuters/Ipsos survey, landing at 38%. The media is already celebrating, but seasoned voters know these numbers often reflect short-term political noise rather than the strength of Trump’s long-term support.
At the beginning of his second term, Trump stood at 47% approval. Since then, he has faced a relentless wave of political attacks: a government shutdown standoff, heavy media coverage of old Epstein-related files, and Democrats trying to capitalize on every headline. These same Democrats are now claiming the Epstein documents “prove” their years-long narrative about Trump—ignoring the fact that many high-profile names in their own party also appear in those files.
Political analysts note that this flare-up puts pressure on the President’s base, but Trump’s supporters have stood firm through far bigger storms. And despite the noise, a separate polling average from Decision Desk HQ shows Trump at 42.4% approval, with his disapproval at 55.1%—numbers that fluctuate depending on media intensity and political messaging cycles.
When specifically asked about Trump’s handling of the Epstein-file controversy, 20% said they approve, 59% said they don’t, and 21% were unsure—a typical result when the media flood zone is activated. Many respondents admitted they hadn’t seen the full context, a common issue when the press highlights only the narrative that benefits Democrats.
On Sunday, Trump directly addressed the controversy and called for the full release of every Epstein-related file—an unprecedented push for transparency.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that, as he told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday night, House Republicans should move to release the Epstein records because “we have nothing to hide.”
The poll surveyed 1,017 Americans between Nov. 14–17 and carries a margin of error of ±3 points.
