Poll: Trump’s second-term strengths shift to border security and crime as economy weakens

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's overall job approval stands at 39% in the latest AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll, a level that aligns with his average since the start of his second term. The poll of 1,183 adults conducted Sept. 11-15 has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points. The results indicate a shift in which issues voters see as Trump’s strengths: border security and crime have become relatively stronger, while the economy remains a weak point, particularly among independents.

The survey shows that border security has emerged as a standout strength for Trump in his second term. He receives higher marks on border security than on his overall job performance or on other issues that had previously been top strengths, such as immigration and crime. Immigration remains above his overall job approval, but its momentum has cooled since the start of his second term. In March, about half of U.S. adults approved of his handling of immigration; the most recent reading puts immigration approval at 43%, a tick higher than his overall rating but not a clear gain from earlier points in the term.

The economy remains the most conspicuous weak spot in the public’s assessment of Trump’s presidency. Overall, 37% of U.S. adults approve of his handling of the economy, down slightly from 43% in August and broadly in line with his average since taking office. The economy is notably weak among independents, with roughly two in 10 independents approving of his economic management. By comparison, a larger share of independents approves of his border-security approach and his handling of crime.

On immigration, about half of Americans say Trump has “gone too far” in pursuing deportations and related policies, a stance that remains consistent with a similar share in a poll conducted in April. Still, immigration approval remains modestly higher than his overall job approval, signaling a complex political dynamic around border and immigration issues that has persisted since the 2016 campaign.

Trump’s approach to crime has been another pillar of support, with 46% approving of how he handles crime, though this is down from 53% in August after his deployment of the National Guard to Washington. The level of approval on crime continues to outpace his overall job approval, and independents are more mixed on this issue: about four in 10 independents approve of Trump’s crime policy, compared with about one in four independents who approve of his handling of the presidency overall.

The economy’s weakness is mirrored in other issue areas as well. Roughly one-third of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of trade negotiations and health care, and a similar share disapproves. These issues have been among the least favorable for him in recent AP-NORC polls. About 6 in 10 adults say Trump has “gone too far” with tariffs on foreign goods, a sentiment that spans across party lines but is most pronounced among Democrats and independents.

Foreign policy, long a steadier component of Trump’s profile, shows about 4 in 10 Americans approving of his handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a figure that has declined slightly since March. Republicans show relatively higher approval on foreign policy compared with Democrats, but the numbers remain modest across the board. In March, Republican approval on this issue was higher (around 72%), while Democrats were far less supportive (around 9% in the current poll).

Taken together, the AP-NORC findings suggest a reevaluation of Trump’s strengths in his second term: border security and crime are clear advantages, but the economy remains a potential vulnerability, especially among independents who are crucial to presidential outcomes. The poll’s timing also indicates a steady, narrow band of overall approval for Trump, echoing patterns seen earlier in his presidency where fluctuations in specific issues did not always translate into broad shifts in overall support.

The AP-NORC poll of 1,183 adults was conducted Sept. 11-15, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points for adults overall. The results provide a snapshot of how voters view Trump’s performance across a range of domestic and foreign policy issues, underscoring the persistent divide in perceptions of his economic stewardship versus his security and immigration agendas. As campaign dynamics evolve, the relative strength of border security and crime versus the economy could shape messaging and voter turnout in the months ahead.

Overall, the poll indicates that while Trump maintains a base of support, particularly on issues of border security and crime, the central question of how Americans judge his economic leadership remains his most consequential hurdle with independents and a significant portion of the electorate. In an era of polarized politics, the divergence between core issue support and overall approval underscores the challenge for any candidate seeking broad, cross-cutting appeal in a general election.