A sweeping new poll has revealed a fractured United States, showing exactly how Americans in each state view President Donald Trump just eight months into his first term. The results, released by Pew Research Center, paint a picture of sharp divides — with some states rallying behind Trump while others register historic disapproval levels for a modern president at this stage.
According to the data, Trump’s strongest support remains anchored in deep-red states across the South and Midwest, where approval ratings hover above 60 percent. In West Virginia, for instance, CNN reports that nearly seven in ten residents continue to stand firmly behind him. But in coastal strongholds like California, Massachusetts, and New York, his approval has plunged below 30 percent, with majorities saying his presidency so far has been “chaotic and damaging.”
The stark split has left political analysts warning that Trump’s presidency, only months old, is already defined by unprecedented polarization. “We’ve never seen anything quite like this so early in a presidency,” explained political scientist Larry Sabato in comments carried by The Washington Post. “In some states he’s treated like a savior, in others like a crisis.”
New state-by-state approval ratings show Trump with highs of 69% in WV, lows of 28% in CA. America has never been more divided. — @NateSilver538
The survey also revealed telling swings in battleground states. In Pennsylvania, Trump’s approval is down to 41 percent, a drop from the 48 percent margin he carried into office. In Wisconsin and Michigan, numbers are similarly underwater, hovering around 40 percent. NBC News analysis suggests these trends could be devastating for Trump’s reelection chances if they persist.
In Florida, however, the picture looks brighter for Trump. His approval rating stands at 55 percent, boosted by strong support from retirees and Cuban-American voters. Texas remains another pillar of strength, with 59 percent approval, according to The Texas Tribune. The regional map suggests Trump is not losing ground everywhere — but where he is, it could matter most.
Beyond the numbers, the poll asked Americans how they feel about Trump’s personal qualities. In states like Oregon, Vermont, and Illinois, majorities described him as “dishonest” and “unfit.” In contrast, voters in Alabama and Oklahoma most commonly chose “strong leader” as the defining trait. The Wall Street Journal noted the gap reflects not just policy preferences but entirely different cultural lenses.
Trump’s approval at 8 months is the most geographically polarized of any modern president. State lines have become political battle lines. — @CharlieCookDC
The findings also echo on Capitol Hill. Democratic lawmakers seized on the data as proof that Trump has alienated much of the country. Meanwhile, Republicans pointed to the president’s resilience in their strongholds, claiming it shows he is still the dominant figure in American politics. Politico reported GOP leaders privately expressed concern about the erosion in purple states, especially with midterms looming.
For ordinary Americans, the numbers feel like confirmation of what they already see in their own communities. A resident of Ohio told Cleveland.com, “Half my family thinks he’s saving America. The other half won’t even say his name at the dinner table. It’s tearing people apart.”
State-level approval ratings show just how divided the U.S. is under Trump. In some towns he’s a hero, in others a pariah. — @USPoliticsPolls
Historians say the poll underscores how fragile national unity has become. Eight months in, Trump’s presidency is already marked by extremes: beloved in red America, loathed in blue America, and hanging by a thread in the states that will decide his political fate. As The Atlantic put it, “America is not living under one presidency, but under fifty.”