Only 31% of Americans consider Donald Trump “honest and trustworthy,” the lowest share recorded since the start of his second term, according to a new Economist/YouGov poll. A majority, 53%, say the president is not honest, while the rest are unsure.
The same survey shows broad suspicion about Trump’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein. Seven in 10 Americans say Trump knew either “a lot” (44%) or “some” (27%) about Epstein’s sex crimes before they became public; just eight percent say he knew nothing. Trump’s handling of the Epstein investigations carries a net approval rating of –39, with Democrats overwhelmingly disapproving and Republicans giving modest support. The recent transfer of Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell to a minimum-security Texas prison is opposed by 47% of Americans, with just 14% in favor and 38% unsure. Nearly half say they are not sure whether Trump ordered the move; 36% believe he did.
Trump’s overall job approval stands at 42%, with 54% disapproving—a net rating of –12. That is slightly better than his standing at this point in his first term, when his net approval was –15, but remains negative. Comparisons with former President Joe Biden’s term show that Biden’s net approval was below –15 for much of the second half of his presidency, and Trump’s current rating on inflation matches Biden’s lowest point on the issue.
Trump continues to face steep challenges with Black voters. A July Economist/YouGov poll found that just 12% of Black Americans approved of his job performance, while 81% disapproved. Decision Desk HQ averages show more than 70% of Black voters disapprove, with roughly a quarter approving. Those figures follow the 2024 election, in which Pew Research Center’s validated voter study found Trump improved among Black voters compared to 2020, winning 15% overall (including 21% of Black men and 10% of Black women) while Harris secured 83%. AP VoteCast estimated that 92% of Black women voted for Harris, a figure that may have since increased.
Beyond the Epstein controversy and approval ratings, the poll highlights other political flash points, including: 52% of Americans favor independent commissions for drawing congressional maps; only nine percent believe partisan gerrymandering should be allowed; and nearly half expect inflation to rise in the next six months. On Trump’s firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner, twice as many Americans say it was unjustified (36%) as say it was justified (18%), with 46% unsure. Trust in federal economic data is evenly split between those who trust it (41%) and those who distrust it (42%)
