Donald Trump’s presidency has been one of the most polarizing times in recent American political history. Although he left the Oval Office in January 2021, his legacy remains front-page news, packs courthouses, and attracts attention at campaign rallies. Recent polls suggest that public opinion on Trump’s presidency is far from settled. To some Americans, he is a maverick reformer who rocked Washington and spoke for the forgotten.
As Trump looks ahead to another possible bid, fresh poll numbers shed light on how Americans perceive his presidency and what his legacy will be for the nation’s future.
Approval Ratings in Retrospect
Polls in 2025 confirm Trump’s approval ratings are still largely in line with his approval rating when he left the White House. About 42–45% of Americans hold a favorable opinion of his presidency, while about 52–55% have an unfavorable opinion. These numbers are staggeringly close to the extremely polarized ratings during his time in the White House.
Partisan Lines Still Define Opinion
As expected, the latest opinion polls show opinions regarding Trump’s presidency sharply dividing along party lines. Among Republicans, well over 80% of them give him a positive evaluation while in the Oval Office, with many describing him as a president who “fought for the people” and “stood up to Washington elites.” His America First platform, focus on border security, and confrontational stance toward international trade remain popular talking points in conservative circles.
Polls on Policy Legacies
Where topics are more targeted, the polling becomes more subtle:
Economy: A mere majority of Americans (51%) believe the economy was stronger under Trump than it is today. The number is higher among Republicans (79%) but significantly lower among Democrats (29%).
Immigration: Trump’s aggressive immigration policies, including attempting to construct a border wall, are still popular with conservatives but opposed by most moderates and liberals. The polls show just 35% of Americans support restoring these policies.
Healthcare: Attempting to repeal Obamacare was unpopular, with most polls demonstrating Americans wishing to preserve or extend Obamacare rather than dismantling it.
Foreign Policy: Trump’s China policy and trade tariff application are received mixed reviews, yet his in-person diplomacy with North Korea remains one of the most polarizing elements of his record.
These results reflect that Trump’s policies resonate differently along issue domains. While his economic message continues to be resonant, other elements of his record remain polarizing.
Polls on Trump and Democracy
Most compelling of all is probably the drama of Trump’s impact on U.S. democracy. Over half of Americans, a 60% majority, believe that his conduct after the 2020 election eroded democratic norms, particularly the refusal to accept the results and his part in what occurred on January 6, 2021.
Meanwhile, a whopping 65% or more of Republican respondents say they believe Trump’s claims of an election being “rigged,” even as courts and officials have already rebuffed allegations of massive fraud. This suggests the degree to which Trump’s presidency left behind not just policy arguments but also profound disagreements on whether American elections are valid.
Political commentators argue that this polarization is among Trump’s most enduring legacies. Trust in institutions, particularly elections and the media, has been shifted—irreversibly, it has turned out—by Trump’s presidency.
Trump’s Legacy in Context with Other Presidents
Recent polls also ask Americans to compare Trump with past presidents. If compared with figures like Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, Trump’s presidency is universally regarded less positively in general terms. However, among Republican voters, Trump often finds himself near the top, even ahead of Ronald Reagan as the most influential conservative leader of our times.
Historians place Trump at the bottom of nearly all presidential rankings, citing his divisive rhetoric, high level of personnel turnover, and assault on democratic norms. Still, even among experts, there’s disagreement: some concede that his presidency reshaped the Republican Party and spurred new arguments about globalization, immigration, and trade.
Conclusion: A Legacy Still Being Written
The recent surveys affirm what most of us suspected: Trump’s legacy is anything but closed. To millions of Americans, he will be a fighter who shook up the existing order and stood up for their interests. To others, he will forever be a reminder of the vulnerability of democracy and the risks of populist politics.
As America enters deeper into 2025, the debate on Trump’s legacy is not simply a historical one. It is also a future one, as long as he remains a force in politics, which means the story of his presidency is not yet complete.