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A new Rasmussen Reports poll released Monday shows a notable shift in public sentiment, with nearly half of likely U.S. voters expressing optimism about the nation’s direction in a milestone the pollster described as “uncharted territory.”
The survey of 1,810 likely voters, conducted between May 18 and May 22, found that 48 percent believe the United States is headed in the right direction, compared to 47 percent who say it is on the wrong track. According to The Daily Signal, this marks the highest “right track” rating Rasmussen has recorded in nearly two decades of running the survey.
In a post on X, Rasmussen noted that a rolling four-night average showed 50 percent of respondents shared the belief that the country is moving in the right direction, solidifying the recent upward trend.
The results show a dramatic improvement from the previous year, when only 32 percent of respondents under the Biden administration said the country was headed in the right direction. In comparison, 63 percent believed it was on the wrong path. Last week, that figure stood at 45 percent.
The poll, which was conducted both online and via telephone interviews, carries a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points and a 95 percent confidence level.
The Rasmussen study follows another May poll revealing Trump’s job approval rating has climbed to 55 percent, according to a new InsiderAdvantage poll. Just 44 percent disapproved and only one percent were undecided.
“These results are not a surprise,” said Matt Towery, the pollster behind InsiderAdvantage. “Other pollsters who accurately polled election cycles where President Trump’s name appeared on the ballot have been showing his approval ratings moving into the fifty-percent-plus range.”
The InsiderAdvantage survey polled 1,000 likely voters between May 17 and 19.
The data aligns with other national surveys recently showing that Trump’s approval trended upward. Harvard-Harris puts Trump at 47 percent approval, while Rasmussen Reports shows 49 percent and Morning Consult shows 48 percent. The latest InsiderAdvantage findings suggest a notable boost in public support for the 47th president.
“The majority of Trump’s policies continue to see strong support, especially on immigration and government efficiency, even though there is concern Trump has exceeded guardrails with executive orders and tariffs,” Mark Penn, co-director of the Harvard/Harris poll, said in a statement. “If he is able to successfully lower the price of prescription drugs and hold down the fort on inflation, he will be able to unlock 10% more of voters in his approval rating.”