A new AP-NORC poll offers a revealing look at how Donald Trump’s own party sees his record — and it shows the president’s support is far from uniform, even among Republicans. Immigration remains his strongest issue with the base, but approval slips notably when the subject turns to the economy, and slips further still on Iran.
The survey, conducted July 23–27, 2026, interviewed 1,165 U.S. adults. It carries a margin of sampling error of about plus or minus 3.7 percentage points overall, and roughly plus or minus 6.0 points for the Republican subgroup. It is worth noting this is a poll of adults, not of registered or likely voters — a snapshot of public opinion rather than a forecast of any election.
Immigration is still the base’s rallying point
Among Republicans, immigration is where Trump performs best. About 8 in 10 — roughly 80% — approve of how he is handling the issue. The hard-line approach that has defined his second term, from stepped-up enforcement to aggressive deportation efforts, continues to energize the party’s core supporters and remains the clearest point of agreement inside the coalition.
The economy tells a different story
The picture changes when Republicans are asked about the economy. Just 69% approve of Trump’s handling of it — still a majority, but a clear step down from his immigration figure. For a president who campaigned heavily on prices and the cost of living, a gap of roughly 11 points between his best issue and his economic number inside his own party is a signal worth watching. It suggests pocketbook pressures are being felt even by supporters inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.
On Iran, Republican approval sits lower still and has slipped slightly, making it the weakest of the three issues among the party faithful. AP did not publish an exact figure for Iran approval, but the direction is clear: it is trending down rather than up, and it now trails both immigration and the economy with the base.
Beyond the base, a steeper climb
Step outside the Republican coalition and the numbers grow tougher for the White House. Only 39% of all U.S. adults approve of Trump’s handling of immigration — down from 49% earlier in his term. That 10-point decline over the course of the administration suggests the enforcement agenda that fires up the base is wearing on the broader public.
The poll also found that 47% of adults say Trump has exceeded his authority on deportations — a striking figure as immigration actions continue to draw court challenges and legal scrutiny. It points to a growing unease, even among some who might otherwise favor tougher enforcement, about how far the executive branch should be able to reach.
What it means
Taken together, the findings sketch a coalition that is united on immigration but increasingly divided on everything else. The crackdown at the border may still be the glue holding the base together, but the softer numbers on the economy and Iran hint at vulnerabilities that could matter if either issue moves to the center of the national conversation.
The question now is whether immigration alone can keep the coalition intact — or whether a base that is cooling on the economy and Iran points to harder terrain ahead. For a president whose political identity is built on the border, the poll is a reminder that even loyal supporters are keeping score on more than one issue.