If you spend a lot of your time reading the mainstream press, you’ll know that Donald Trump is doing a terrible job, he’s rushing this country into fascism, Elon Musk wants to take over the world, and the president’s Cabinet picks are all dangers to Democracy, each and every one of them.
Apparently a lot of Americans aren’t paying attention, though, because a new CBS/YouGov poll shows that a majority of Americans are pleased with how things are going in only his first 20 days in office.
It was extra delightful to watch Margaret Brennan, who is the host of CBS News’ “Face the Nation” and who has been routinely embarrassed by the members of the Trump team she’s interviewed, have to read the good news on air. It must have been torture for the poor lady:
CBS POLL: President Trump's approval rating is better than it has ever been.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 9, 2025
"He's doing, in the eyes of the public, what he said he would do ... 70% of people say he's doing what he promised." pic.twitter.com/bulwKgA2cl
Anthony Salvanto, CBS' executive director of elections and surveys, had more to say:
ANTHONY SALVANTO: I will keep it simple, Margaret. He's doing, in the eyes of the public, what he said he would do in the campaign.
There's political value in that. In fact, 70 percent of people say he's doing what he promised. That's whether they approve of him or not. Now, there's another part of this that continues over from the campaign. There were words that he was described as being tough, being energetic.
And he still is today in big majority numbers. So, as people take a look in these first few weeks, there's been a lot of activity. They're getting that general sense of governance, and that's being reflected in these early numbers.
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There were plenty more positive numbers for the president in the poll:
The poll found that Trump’s overall approval on the job so far is 53%, with 47% of respondents indicating they disapprove. Voters also used positive words to describe the president, with 69% describing him as tough, 63% energetic, 60% focused, and 58% effective.
Many Americans also approve of the job Trump has done so far on key issues, with 59% saying they approve of his program to deport illegal immigrants, while 41% said they do not approve. A larger majority, 64%, indicated they approve of the president’s plan to send U.S. troops to the U.S-Mexico border, while 36% disapprove.
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Young people also delivered strong numbers for the 45th and 47th president:
CBS News Poll: % of 18-29 year olds who describe President Trump as...
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) February 9, 2025
71% - Tough
65% - Energetic
63% - Effective
62% - Focused
58% - Competent
35% - Compassionate
YouGov | n=452 | February 5-7 https://t.co/NVD3ywLZ0R pic.twitter.com/TekTv75tI2
If you listened to folks like Margaret Brennan and anyone on MSNBC or CNN (with the exceptions of Scott Jennings and Harry Enten), you’d believe the sky was falling. So far, that’s not what most Americans are seeing.
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