Gallup Admits: Trump Ratings 'Best in a Year'

President Donald Trump's approval rating has remained steady at 42 percent in Gallup's two most recent polls, his highest weekly average since May 2017.

• Trump's approval rating for the whole of 2018 is 39 percent, on average.
• Trump's approval rating did not rise above 40 percent between May 2017 and April 2018. Gallup pointed out that Trump's job approval has not been at 42 percent since early May 2017, prompting the organization to proclaim the figure is the "best in a year."
• Trump had his best approval rating, 45 percent, during his first 10 days in office.

Gallup notes that "much of the recent news coverage about the president has focused on independent counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian collusion and the payments made by Trump lawyer Michael Cohen to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. But there have been other stories that reflect more positively on Trump, including North Korea's willingness to accept restrictions on its nuclear program, and the U.S. unemployment rate dropping to its lowest level in 18 years."

Trump's approval ratings among every party have increased, even Democrats, though Republicans remain by far the most supportive.

Gallup reports that from April 9-22:

• Trump's approval rating stood at 39 percent.
• 84 percent of Republicans approved.
• 33 percent of independents approved.
• 9 percent of Democrats approve.

More recent polls, taken between April 23 and May 6, show:

• Trump's approval rating at 42 percent.
• 89 percent of Republicans approve.
• 36 percent of Independents approve.
• 11 percent of Democrats approve.

However, "Trump"s approval rating remains low from a historical perspective," according to Gallup. "The average presidential job approval rating dating back to 1938 is 53 percent, and elected presidents in May of their second year in office have historically averaged 58 percent job approval. In fact, Trump's 42 percent average at this point would tie Jimmy Carter's from May 1978 as the lowest for an elected president at a comparable point in time."

Gallup polled 1,507 adults in all 50 states by phone from April 30 to May 6, with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.

• Rasmussen Reports Poll: Trump Approval Hits 51 Percent
• Trump Approval Rises to 42 Percent, Highest Gallup Reading in 11 Months