Home
+
Published : 24 Apr 2026, 02:56 PM
A Fox News poll shows 56 percent of voters do not see the Donald Trump administration as competent in managing the federal government, with findings broadly aligned with sentiment recorded during previous presidencies.
Only 43 percent of respondents think the White House is running the government effectively, according to the US broadcaster’s survey released on Wednesday.
The figures sit broadly in line with past administrations, including the Obama White House in 2015 and the Biden administration in 2022, when similar levels were seen.
A pollster involved in the survey says voter scepticism towards presidents is a consistent pattern, with independents proving particularly hard to win over.
Policy Ratings Stay Under Pressure
Trump’s handling of key issues draws more disapproval than approval across immigration, China, foreign policy, Iran, the economy, government spending and inflation.
Border security stands out as the only area with a positive balance.
Overall job approval sits at 42 percent, with 58 percent disapproving, largely unchanged from last month’s reading.
Cabinet Figures Trail in Ratings
Senior officials also face negative public perception.
Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth all post net negative approval scores, though support remains stronger among MAGA Republicans than non-MAGA voters.
Among Republican respondents, Vance records higher approval than Rubio and Hegseth, driven largely by backing from the MAGA base.
MAGA refers to “Make America Great Again”, a Trump-aligned political movement within the Republican Party.
Leadership Traits Questioned
The survey also tracks perceptions of leadership qualities, where negative views outweigh positive ones.
According to Fox News, more than half of voters say Trump lacks judgment, temperament and mental fitness, while over 60 percent believe he does not care about people like them.
Negative views on temperament have risen since just before the 2024 election, while concerns over mental fitness have also edged higher in recent months.
Democrats overwhelmingly view Trump as lacking key traits, while strong backing persists among MAGA Republicans. Independents lean more critical across all measures.
The findings, coming from Fox News — a conservative-leaning broadcaster with a largely right-of-centre audience — point to ongoing doubts over leadership optics and delivery as the administration navigates political pressure.
