A 56% majority of voters say the Trump administration has not been competent at managing the federal government, according to a Fox News poll released Wednesday. Two in 10 Republicans join most independents and Democrats in holding that view, while 4 in 10 non-MAGA Republicans also agree.
Overall, 43% think the White House has been competent at running the government. Those numbers are in line with historical patterns, tracking similarly to ratings for the Obama administration in 2015 and the Biden administration in 2022.
The poll also found President Trump's overall job approval at 42%, with 58% disapproving. His ratings are negative across most policy areas tested, including immigration at 46% approve to 54% disapprove, China policy at 42-57, foreign policy at 40-60, and Iran policy at 37-63.
On the economy, 34% approve while 66% disapprove. Government spending marks come in at 33-67, and inflation receives his lowest rating at 28% approve to 72% disapprove. The only positive mark is on border security, where 53% approve and 47% disapprove.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic analysts and progressive commentators have pointed to the poll as evidence that voters are rejecting the administration's agenda. The low marks on core economic issues like inflation and government spending reflect voter concerns about kitchen-table priorities, they say.
The poll's findings on Trump's personal traits have drawn particular attention from progressive critics. More than 6 in 10 voters say Trump doesn't care about people like them, while majorities question his temperament, judgment, and mental soundness for the job.
Among Democrats, 9 in 10 or more say Trump lacks the traits necessary to serve as president effectively. Progressives have argued these numbers show a fundamental选民 rejection of Trump's fitness for office.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who helps conduct Fox News polls with Democrat Chris Anderson, offered a different interpretation. He noted that voter harshness toward sitting presidents is a consistent trend across administrations, not unique to Trump.
The president's numbers show how difficult it is to win independents and out-partisans, Shaw said. He emphasized that the ratings are comparable to those received by both the Obama and Biden administrations at similar points in their presidencies.
Among Republicans, Trump maintains strong support. Eighty-four percent approve of Vice President Vance's job performance, while 77% approve of Secretary of State Rubio and 76% approve of Secretary of Defense Hegseth. Each rating is at least 20 points higher among MAGA Republicans than non-MAGA Republicans.
At least 9 in 10 MAGA Republicans think Trump possesses the right qualities to serve as president. Conservative commentators have pointed to this divide as evidence that the core Republican base remains firmly behind the administration.
What the Numbers Show
The Fox News poll was conducted April 17-20, 2026, under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R). The survey includes interviews with 1,001 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file. Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points.
On specific traits, 60% say Trump lacks the appropriate temperament to serve effectively, up from 52% just before the 2024 election. Fifty-seven percent say he lacks the right judgment, while 55% question his mental soundness. These numbers have increased slightly since late 2024.
The 60% who think Trump lacks the right temperament is roughly in line with views during most of his 2016 presidential campaign. The 55% questioning mental soundness is up 7 points since late 2024 and near the high of 56% in 2023.
Independents break negatively on all four traits tested — judgment, temperament, mental soundness, and empathy. Non-MAGA Republicans are more likely than MAGA Republicans to say Trump lacks these qualities, though majorities of non-MAGA Republicans still view him positively on most traits.
The poll's historical comparisons show 44% rated Obama as competent in 2015, while 38% said the Biden administration was competent in 2022, down from 51% in 2021. The current 43% competence rating for Trump falls within this historical range.
The Bottom Line
The poll presents a complex picture of voter sentiment toward the Trump administration. While a majority question competence, the numbers mirror historical patterns for both Democratic and Republican presidents at similar points in their terms.
The administration's lowest marks come on economic issues that directly affect voters' daily lives — inflation at 28% approve and government spending at 33%. These numbers may present the most immediate political challenge.
The divide between MAGA Republicans and other voters remains stark across nearly every metric, from job performance to personal traits. This suggests the administration retains a solid base but faces skepticism beyond its core supporters.
What to watch: Whether Trump can improve his numbers on the economy and inflation, issues that consistently show the largest gaps. Also watch whether non-MAGA Republicans continue drifting toward more negative assessments, and how the administration responds to these poll findings heading into the 2026 midterms.