NBC Poll: Trump Approval "Makes Strong" Move

A new NBC News poll reveals that President Donald Trump is experiencing a notable level of approval from voters early in his second term, with his job approval rating reaching 47%—tying the highest mark of his political career in NBC’s polling history. Conducted from March 7-11, 2025, the survey polled 1,000 registered voters via telephone interviews and an online survey sent through text messages, carrying a margin of error of ±3.1%. 

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the findings and their context:

Overall Approval Rating: Trump’s approval stands at 47% (37% “strongly approve,” 10% “somewhat approve”), with 51% disapproving. This matches his peak approval from previous NBC polls, a significant uptick from the 45% recorded in March 2017 during his first term, though it remains below the honeymoon highs of other modern presidents.

Right Direction Sentiment: A striking 44% of voters say the country is on the “right track”—the highest since early 2004—though 54% still see it as the “wrong track.” This optimism reflects a surge in positive sentiment among Republicans post-election, with 35% of Americans overall saying things are going well, up from 29% in January 2025.

Issue-Specific Approval: Trump scores highest on immigration, with 51% approving (a 7-point increase from his first-term peak), driven by stricter enforcement policies. However, economic concerns drag his numbers down: 54% disapprove of his handling of the economy (44% approve), and 55% disapprove on inflation and cost of living (42% approve). His management of the Russia-Ukraine war also sees 55% disapproval.

Economic Doubts: Despite Trump’s approval hitting a personal best, voters are souring on his economic stewardship. Only 18% rate the economy as “excellent” or “good”—a low not seen in NBC polling since 2014—down from higher marks during Biden’s term. This shift follows Trump’s trade war escalation, with tariff threats spooking markets and raising inflation fears to 4.9% (per University of Michigan data), the highest in nearly two years.

NBC News poll: 44% say the country is headed in the right direction under Trump—up from 27% in November.

That’s the highest number since 2012. It hasn’t hit 44%+ since 2004.

🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Anu0I2HTdJ

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 16, 2025

Analysts’ Take: NBC’s Steve Kornacki notes that while Trump’s overall approval is a bright spot, “doubts loom” over the economy and government cuts, potentially foreshadowing challenges. Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt remarked, “While this survey shows a mixed result for Donald Trump, Democrats are the ones in the wilderness right now,” pointing to the Democrats’ record-low 27% net favorability.