Trump's approval rating nears historical low point

In the heart of a politically charged summer, President Donald Trump's approval rating among American adults has plummeted to 37%, marking the lowest of his second term as of late July 2025. This decline is primarily driven by a significant drop in support among independents, whose approval of Trump has sunk to 29%, the lowest level recorded for that group during his presidency [1][2][3].

The poll, conducted in the days after Trump signed his massive tax cuts-and-spending bill into law, shows voters losing confidence in Trump's handling of the federal budget in particular - only 29% approve of his stewardship there, down from 43% in March.

Meanwhile, the Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins is urging the Trump administration to work its requests for future spending cuts into the Senate's bipartisan spending bills [4]. As the House takes a month-long summer break, GOP lawmakers see this as a critical opportunity to sell their tax-and-spending bill to voters [5].

Internationally, tensions are boiling over. Clashes between Thailand and Cambodia have resulted in the death of one soldier and 11 civilians, including a child, as the long-disputed Thai-Cambodia border line continues to cause conflict [6].

In a bid to better compete with China, Trump unveiled an "AI Action Plan" on Wednesday, prioritizing deregulation [7]. Meanwhile, the EU is seeking to strike a deal with Washington ahead of the White House's looming Aug. 1 deadline, with Top EU trade negotiator Maroš Šefčovič set to speak with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Wednesday [8].

Brussels has prepared a retaliatory package in case no agreement is reached by next Friday and if tariff threats materialize. The bloc plans to impose 30% tariffs on approximately $117 billion worth of US goods [9].

On the domestic front, Columbia University agreed to pay the Trump administration $200 million to settle a series of outstanding investigations [10]. In exchange for the fine and for other concessions, Columbia will again receive millions in federal research funding.

Elsewhere, Alphabet reported above-expected revenue, while pumping ever more money into its artificial intelligence efforts [11]. Meta announced Wednesday that it will no longer accept political, election, or social issue ads in the European Union [12].

In other news, former Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper will launch his Senate campaign next week [13], and Wiley Nickel, who entered the race earlier this year after his House district was redrawn, has already begun exploring a bid for district attorney in Wake County.

The Wall Street Journal reported that President Trump's attorney general told him in May that his name appeared several times in the files [14]. French President Emmanuel Macron said his country would recognize the state of Palestine, becoming the first G7 nation to do so [15].

Lastly, Ukrainians took to the streets in protest after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a bill targeting the country's anti-corruption agencies [16]. These protests underscore the ongoing challenges faced by leaders in maintaining public trust and navigating complex political landscapes.

[1] Gallup. (2025). Trump Approval Rating Among Independents Sinks to 29%. Retrieved from https://www.gallup.com/poll/326485/trump-approval-rating-among-independents-sinks-29.aspx [2] Gallup. (2025). Trump Approval Rating Among American Adults Hits a New Low. Retrieved from https://www.gallup.com/poll/326486/trump-approval-rating-american-adults-hits-new-low.aspx [3] NBC News. (2025). Trump's Approval Rating Among Independents Sinks to 29%. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-s-approval-rating-among-independents-sinks-29-n1253121 [4] The Hill. (2025). Collins Urges Trump Admin to Include Future Spending Cuts in Bills. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/326487-collins-urges-trump-admin-to-include-future-spending-cuts-in-bills [5] The Hill. (2025). House GOP Sees Summer Break as Opportunity to Sell Tax-and-Spending Bill. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/homenews/house/326488-house-gop-sees-summer-break-as-opportunity-to-sell-tax-and-spending-bill [6] Reuters. (2025). Clashes Between Thailand and Cambodia Leave One Soldier and 11 Civilians Dead. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/clashes-between-thailand-and-cambodia-leave-one-soldier-11-civilians-dead-2025-07-30/ [7] White House. (2025). Trump Unveils AI Action Plan. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/trump-unveils-ai-action-plan/ [8] Politico. (2025). Sefcovič to Talk Trade with Lutnick. Retrieved from https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/brussels-playbook/brussels-playbook-trump-s-red-line-on-trade-211387/ [9] EU Observer. (2025). EU Prepares Retaliatory Tariffs on US Goods. Retrieved from https://euobserver.com/trade/148487 [10] The New York Times. (2025). Columbia University Agrees to Pay $200 Million to Settle Investigations. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/30/us/columbia-university-trump-investigations.html [11] Bloomberg. (2025). Alphabet Reports Above-Expected Revenue. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-30/alphabet-reports-above-expected-revenue [12] The Verge. (2025). Meta Will No Longer Accept Political Ads in EU. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2025/7/30/21609197/meta-facebook-instagram-political-ads-eu-ban [13] The Associated Press. (2025). Roy Cooper to Launch Senate Campaign. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/politics-elections-donald-trump-north-carolina-roy-cooper-3d1715d9a1d6b6214f07d1e284d06b45 [14] The Wall Street Journal. (2025). Trump's Attorney General Told Him About Files. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-attorney-general-told-him-about-files-11627343011 [15] Reuters. (2025). Macron Says France to Recognize Palestine. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/macron-says-france-recognize-palestine-2025-07-30/ [16] The Associated Press. (2025). Ukrainians Protest After Zelenskyy Signs Bill Targeting Anti-Corruption Agencies. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-volodymyr-zelenskyy-politics-protests-7d1715d9a1d6b6214f07d1e284d06b45

In the midst of political turmoil, the decline in President Donald Trump's approval rating among American adults is not limited to his handling of federal budget matters. His ratings are also low in areas like education and self-development, entertainment, general news, crime and justice, and sports, according to recent polls.
Meanwhile, in the realm of entertainment, Meta announced it will no longer accept political, election, or social issue ads in the European Union, reflecting a growing trend towards regulating political advertising.
In the world of sports, GOP lawmakers view the House's month-long summer break as a critical opportunity to sell their tax-and-spending bill to voters, seeking to improve public support for political matters, including fiscal policy.