Eroding Personal Attributes
Perhaps the most telling dimension of the polling is the erosion happening not just in job performance ratings but in how Americans assess Trump’s personal characteristics – traits that have historically served as a floor for his support even when policy ratings slipped.
Pew found a significant decline in the share of Americans who believe Trump keeps his commitments. Currently, only 38% of respondents say the phrase “keeps his promises” describes the president well, a sharp decrease from 51% shortly after his 2024 reelection. Forty-four percent described him as “mentally sharp,” down from 48% in August, while 64% said he “stands up for what he believes in,” down from 68% the previous summer.
Public confidence in Trump on several key issues has also declined: 41% now say they are very or somewhat confident Trump can make good decisions on immigration policy, down from 53% shortly after his 2024 reelection, and 38% now express confidence in Trump to use military force wisely, down from 46% last summer.
A majority of Americans – 56% – say the overall level of ethics and honesty in the federal government has fallen over the course of Trump’s term, while only 19% say it has risen.
Although job approval has declined, Trump’s personal favorability remained broadly stable through the spring, suggesting frustration is increasingly tied to performance rather than personality. That distinction matters for understanding whether these numbers have room to recover. Trump is not being personally rejected by the public to the same degree that his policies are.