Americans’ approval of Congress spikes to highest point in nearly 4 years
Congressional job approval among Americans shot up in the weeks since President Trump took office to the highest marks in nearly four years, according to a February Gallup survey, a change driven largely by Republican respondents.
The Feb. 16 survey found that 29 percent of Americans approved of the job Congress is doing, while 65 percent disapproved. Republicans have slim majorities in both the House and the Senate.
That is a sharp increase from a Jan. 15 Gallup survey, when congressional job approval was 17 percent and disapproval was 76 percent. And it marks the highest scores for Congress since May 2021, when Gallup found 31 percent approval and 63 percent disapproval.
The recent jump, which coincides with Trump taking office, is driven mostly by a 42-point surge in support from Republican respondents.
In February, congressional job approval sat at 53 percent with Republicans, 26 percent with independents and 5 percent with Democrats; in January those figures were 11 percent for Republicans, 17 percent for independents and 23 percent for Democrats.
That approval of Congress among Republicans is at its highest point in nearly 20 years, since August 2005, according to other Gallup data shared with The Hill.
Trump’s job approval rating, meanwhile, is at 45 percent, a tick down from the 47 percent rating just after his inauguration in January.
Americans’ warming to Congress comes as Senate Republicans have confirmed many of Trump’s Cabinet appointees, including controversial picks such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The House and Senate also swiftly sent the Laken Riley Act, a bill to mandate detention of migrants without legal status if they are accused of crimes such as theft, to Trump’s desk. It was the first piece of legislation Trump signed into law in his second term.
Congressional Republicans have tough tasks in the year ahead, including advancing Trump’s ambitious legislative agenda, funding the government before a Mar. 14 shutdown deadline, and raising the nation’s borrowing limit by the summer.
“History has shown that partisans’ approval tends to fade somewhat after an initial honeymoon period,” a Gallup analysis said.
An uptick in congressional approval driven by partisan respondents when one party holds control of the House, Senate and White House aligns with historical trends.
Democrats similarly reported high approval of Congress when they held trifecta control of government from 2021-23. Republicans also had higher congressional approval ratings when Republicans held unified control of government from 2017-19.
-
4 Key Policies to Lead American Renewal Through Entrepreneurship
It’s Entrepreneurship Week. Here’s how the U.S. can do better to support the innovators who strengthen local and regional economies.Inc. - 20h -
Netflix Plans to Spend $1 Billion Making Content in Mexico Over the Next 4 Years
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos says the money will go toward projects like Alfonso Cuarón’s film Roma, which was made in Mexico and went on to international acclaim.Wired - 13h -
Japan's inflation rate climbs to a 2-year high of 4% in January, supporting rate hike calls from BOJ members
Core inflation — which excludes prices of fresh food — rose to 3.2% from 3% in the prior month and beat economists' expectations of 3.1%, according to a Reuters poll.CNBC - 5h -
Grassley on Musk's DOGE cuts: 'Congress can’t do anything except complain'
Politico - 2d -
Nearly 500 cat figurines stolen from Gordon Ramsay’s London restaurant
By Ramsay’s own estimate, he has lost more than £2,000 during one week in stolen maneki-neko cat models. Nearly 500 cat figurines were stolen in one week from Gordon Ramsay’s new London restaurant, ...The Guardian - 11h -
Meta approves plan for bigger executive bonuses following 5% layoffs
Meta's executive officers could earn a bonus of 200% of their base salary under the company's new executive bonus plan, up from the 75% they earned previously.CNBC - 7h -
Court Approves $795 Million Debt Deal for Spirit Airlines
A U.S. Bankruptcy Judge approved the Spirit Airlines’ restructuring proposal.Inc. - 5h -
High Point hosts Kelly and Charleston Southern
Charleston Southern Buccaneers (10-18, 6-7 Big South) at High Point Panthers (23-5, 11-2 Big South) High Point, North Carolina; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Panthers -16.5; ...ABC News - 2d -
Match point: what to wear to watch sport
Whether it’s the Six Nations or your local footie final, here’s the kit to stay stylish while shouting from the sidelines Continue reading...The Guardian - 3h -
Senate stares down an all-nighter to approve a ‘Plan B’ budget Trump spurned
Politico - 14h
More from The Hill
-
Live updates: Musk takes the stage at CPAC; Senate vote-a-rama stretches into the night
Tech billionaire Elon Musk took the stage at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) with a late-scheduled appearance that saw him wield a chainsaw and discuss a range of ...The Hill - 5h -
China supports 'recent consensus' between US and Russia on Ukraine war, foreign minister says
China supports “the recent consensus” between the U.S. and Russia on the war in Ukraine, said Wang Yi, the country’s foreign minister, amid ongoing discussions about bringing an end to the nearly ...The Hill - 5h -
Former 'Squad' members launching 'Bowman and Bush' YouTube show
Former Reps. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) and Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) are launching a YouTube show, according to a Thursday post from Bush on her Instagram. “I’m beyond excited to announce the launch of our ...The Hill - 7h -
Trump vows to add Black icons to proposed National Garden of American Heroes
President Trump shared plans to feature more than 10 Black historical figures in his proposed National Garden of American Heroes during a Thursday White House reception for Black History Month. ...The Hill - 7h -
Trump vents frustration with Boeing over Air Force One delays
President Trump is airing grievances with Boeing over delays in delivering new Air Force One jets, telling Republican governors on Thursday he was “getting a little tired” of the hold up. “I bought ...The Hill - 8h
More in Politics
-
Live updates: Musk takes the stage at CPAC; Senate vote-a-rama stretches into the night
Tech billionaire Elon Musk took the stage at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) with a late-scheduled appearance that saw him wield a chainsaw and discuss a range of ...The Hill - 5h -
Georgia Republican faces crowd angered by DOGE layoffs
Rep. Rich McCormick faced a crowd at a town hall in Roswell, Georgia, that expressed anger about the layoffs and cuts implemented by Elon Musk's DOGE team.NBC News - 5h -
China supports 'recent consensus' between US and Russia on Ukraine war, foreign minister says
China supports “the recent consensus” between the U.S. and Russia on the war in Ukraine, said Wang Yi, the country’s foreign minister, amid ongoing discussions about bringing an end to the nearly ...The Hill - 5h -
Senate trudges through vote-a-rama to ready a backup budget
Democrats showed few signs of relenting in their attempts to force Republicans to take politically uncomfortable votes.Politico - 6h -
Fired Army veteran speaks out about federal layoffs
Army Veteran Nelson Feliz, Sr., who spent more than a decade working for the Department of Veterans Affairs, is speaking out about his experience as one of the many federal workers who was let go ...NBC News - 6h