America’s political landscape just got a fresh dose of drama with a recent national survey revealing a nation split down the middle on President Donald Trump’s performance and the future of both major parties.
A comprehensive poll conducted by Emerson College Polling on June 24-25, 2025, with 1,000 registered U.S. voters, paints a picture of a deeply divided electorate grappling with Trump’s leadership, upcoming congressional and presidential races, and pressing issues like the economy and immigration.
Trump’s approval rating sits at a precarious 45%, with disapproval edging slightly higher at 46%, a marginal shift from the previous 45% disapproval recorded in an earlier 100-day poll.
It’s a tightrope walk for the administration, as 52% of voters feel the country is veering off course, while 48% see a brighter path ahead.
On the policy front, the economy remains the heavyweight concern for 32% of voters, though that’s down from 41% earlier in 2025. Threats to democracy have climbed to 22%, up four points since March, signaling growing unease about the state of our institutions. Other worries like immigration (14%) and healthcare (9%) linger, showing the breadth of challenges on voters’ minds.
Looking to the 2026 congressional midterms, Democrats hold a slight lead with 43% support against 40% for Republicans, though 18% of voters remain undecided.
“Independents break for the Democratic candidate 37% to 27%,” noted Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. But with 36% of independents still on the fence, that lead feels about as stable as a house of cards in a windstorm.
The 2028 Democratic presidential primary is shaping up to be a free-for-all, with Pete Buttigieg leading at 16%, followed by Kamala Harris at 13%, and Gavin Newsom at 12%.
Compared to a November poll where Harris commanded 37%, her drop suggests the progressive wing’s grip might be slipping as voters seek fresh faces. Meanwhile, 23% are undecided, leaving plenty of room for surprises.
On the Republican side, JD Vance is running away with the 2028 primary field, boasting 46% support, a sharp rise from 30% in November.
“Vance has solidified himself as the frontrunner, backed by 52% of male Republican primary voters,” Kimball observed. With Marco Rubio at 12% and Ron DeSantis at 9%, Vance is clearly the heir apparent to the MAGA mantle.
A generic 2028 presidential ballot shows a dead heat, with both Democratic and Republican candidates at 42% and 16% undecided. Kimball pointed out that independents lean Democratic 37% to 29%, but with 34% still unsure, it’s anyone’s game. This split reflects a nation hungry for direction, not dogma.
Policy debates are heating up, with 68% of voters supporting birthright citizenship for all born in the U.S., though support dips to 55% among those over 70. “Support is highest among voters under 30, at 83%,” Kimball explained. Republicans are nearly split on ending it for children of undocumented immigrants, with 51% opposed, showing even the right isn’t monolithic on this issue.
On deportations, 52% of voters think the Trump administration has overreached, while 25% call it just right and 23% want more. It’s a stark reminder that immigration policy remains a lightning rod, where finding balance feels like threading a needle in a hurricane.
Trust in institutions is another sore spot, with only 40% viewing the Trump administration as truthful, compared to 46% who disagree.
The news media fares even worse, with just 29% seen as honest against 48% who call it untruthful. Compared to February 2017, when Trump’s first term began with 49% trust, the erosion is palpable.
Global anxieties are spiking too, with 57% of voters fearing a world war in the next four years, up slightly since March. On tensions between Israel and Iran, 30% see a major conflict looming soon, while 28% hope for peace and 42% just shrug. It’s a grim outlook that underscores the stakes of foreign policy.
Closer to home, Trump’s presidency has stirred patriotic feelings in 39% of voters, left 34% unchanged, and dampened 27%.
Among Republicans, 67% feel more patriotic, while 45% of Democrats report the opposite—a divide that mirrors the cultural chasm in today’s politics. Independents, predictably, are split almost evenly.