Gallup Poll Shows Crime and Violence As Top Concern

The latest Gallup Poll focuses on American satisfaction with the direction of the country, capturing a notably subdued national mood amid rising concerns about crime, violence, and unity. 

Conducted from September 2-16, 2025, via telephone interviews with a random sample of 1,000 U.S. adults (margin of error: ±4 percentage points at 95% confidence), the poll highlighted a dip in overall satisfaction to the lowest level during President Donald Trump's second term. This decline was largely driven by a drop in Republican satisfaction, from 76% in August to 68% in September, reflecting broader unease.

Satisfaction with U.S. Direction: Overall satisfaction fell to levels consistent with sub-30% readings seen since mid-2021, a period marked by high inflation and political division. The poll noted this as the lowest under Trump's second term so far.

Top Concerns – Crime and Violence: Mentions of crime or violence as the "most important problem" more than doubled from 3% in August to 8% in September—the highest since August 2020 (during widespread protests) and previously 2002. This surge coincided with high-profile incidents, including the August 27 Minneapolis Catholic school shooting that killed two children and the August 22 stabbing death of a Ukrainian woman on a North Carolina train. Much of the increase occurred after the mid-September murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which heavily influenced public sentiment, particularly among Republicans.

National Unity: Concerns about unity also rose, contributing to the overall pessimistic tone. The poll described Americans' mood as "subdued," with fewer expressing optimism about the country's trajectory.

This poll underscores ongoing partisan divides and the impact of recent violent events on public opinion. While Trump's job approval held steady from August (detailed in related July-August polls at around 37%, the lowest of his second term), the satisfaction dip signals growing frustration even among his base. Gallup analysts linked the trends to a mix of economic stability and social unrest, with Republicans showing particular sensitivity to crime narratives.