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title: Poll: Republican Frustrations Dragging Down Country’s Mood
description: Gallup found 29% of Americans are satisfied with the direction of the country, the lowest percentage of Trump&#x27;s second term.
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article:published_time: 2025-09-22T19:25:57.000Z
article:modified_time: 2025-09-23T16:31:04.000Z
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og:title: Poll: Republican Frustrations Dragging Down Country’s Mood
og:description: Gallup found 29% of Americans are satisfied with the direction of the country, the lowest percentage of Trump&#x27;s second term.
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# Republican Frustrations Are Dragging Down the Country’s Mood, New Poll Finds

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by 

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## Brian Bennett


Bennett is the senior White House correspondent at TIME.

Updated: Sep 23, 2025 4:31 PM UTCPublished: Sep 22, 2025 7:25 PM UTC

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President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One, en route to Joint Base Andrews on Sept. 21, 2025.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One, en route to Joint Base Andrews on Sept. 21, 2025. Mandel Ngan—AFP via Getty Images

![Brian Bennett](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt61e129a901c6a892/698a3dde47ca3855003badce/Brian-Bennett-head-shot.jpeg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1:1)

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## Brian Bennett


Bennett is the senior White House correspondent at TIME.

Updated: Sep 23, 2025 4:31 PM UTCPublished: Sep 22, 2025 7:25 PM UTC

Americans’ view of the direction of the country dipped in September, driven by Republicans increasingly saying they’re dissatisfied with where things are going, according to new polling from [Gallup](https://news.gallup.com/poll/695519/mood-subdued-crime-unity-concerns-rise.aspx) released Monday.

Twenty nine percent of Americans are satisfied with the direction of the country, Gallup found, the lowest percentage since Trump came back to office in January. The percentage of Democrats satisfied stayed near 1% and independents remained at around 23%. 

The biggest shift downward in mood came from within President Donald Trump’s own party. The number of Republicans polled who said they were satisfied with the direction of the country dropped from 76% in August to 68% in September. The polling was conducted between September 2 and 16, a periodthat included the Sept. 10 killing of conservative activist [Charlie Kirk](https://time.com/7319365/charlie-kirk-memorial-stephen-miller-trump-speech/).

When asked about the “most important problem facing this country,” Americans mentioned “crime” and “national unity” as issues they were increasingly concerned about. 

Trump’s approval rating was 40%, around where it has largely leveled off in [recent months](https://time.com/7305351/trump-polling-new-low/) after dipping from 47% approval during his first month in office in February.

During former President Joe Biden’s final year in office, Gallup found that satisfaction rates among Americans were even lower than they are now, hovering at around 20%.

The poll results were based on telephone interviews with a random sample of 1,000 American adults across the U.S. The poll's margin of error is plus-or-minus 4 percentage points.

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