A new poll shows that majorities of Americans don’t view President Donald Trump through a positive lens. The YouGov survey, conducted in early 2026, asked respondents which words best describe Trump from a list of 22 options, and the results paint a harsh picture of how the public sees him.
Majorities of Americans think Donald Trump is ‘Corrupt’, new poll suggests
A new poll on Donald Trump found that 65% of polled Americans say “arrogant” applies “a lot” to the president. More than half also describe him as “opportunistic” (57%), “reckless” (56%), “dishonest” (54%), and “corrupt” (54%). These negative views have gotten worse since March 2025, when smaller shares applied these same words to Trump.
In detail, the survey shows notable increases in negative perceptions over the past year. Those calling Trump corrupt rose from 46% to 54%, while dishonest increased from 47% to 54%. The share describing him as hypocritical also grew from 46% to 53%. Polled Americans are least likely to associate Trump with positive traits, as seen in the new poll. Majorities say the words “compassionate” (57%), “inspirational” (57%), “honest” (54%), and “likable” (54%) “do not apply” to him at all.
Furthermore, partisan differences in Donald Trump’s new poll are dramatic. Among polled Republicans, 80% see Trump as a “strong leader” and 75% call him “intelligent.” Among polled Democrats, 93% describe him as “corrupt,” 91% as “dishonest,” and 91% as “reckless.” Fewer than 10% of polled Democrats apply any positive descriptors to Trump.
Additionally, immigration remains Trump’s strongest issue, with 39% of polled Americans expressing a lot of trust in his ability to handle it. However, 47% say they do not trust him at all on immigration. Among polled Republicans, trust in Trump on immigration has declined from 93% last year to 79% currently.
Now, more than half of polled Americans (57%) agree that the country faces a constitutional crisis. Polled Democrats are much more likely than polled Republicans to hold this view (85% vs. 28%). About half (53%) agree the U.S. is a democracy, while fewer (39%) believe the government has robust checks and balances.
All in all, while Republicans and Democrats remain divided on Donald Trump, Americans contributing to this poll share growing concerns about the nation’s future.
