Most US adults believe President Donald Trump has put his personal financial interests, and those of his inner circle, ahead of the country’s since he returned to the White House in 2025, according to a new nationwide poll. The survey was conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and released on Tuesday.
The findings point to a largely critical view of the Republican president. More than half of the adults surveyed said Trump’s second term has been self-serving, with him investing in his own business and commercial pursuits “a lot”. Roughly one quarter said he focuses on national interests, while only 11 percent felt he represents regular Americans.
Poll shows sharp views among Republicans and the public
Even among Republicans, a majority said Trump has prioritised his personal business interests either “a lot” or “some”, according to 55 percent of Republican respondents. Half of all respondents said Trump gives zero priority to people “like them”.
The poll arrives as Trump’s family business reports record income from new ventures that have benefited from his policies. Taken together, the results suggest that most US adults see growing his own finances as the central aim of his presidency, at least to some extent.
Crypto and foreign deals fuel questions about business ties
Trump’s June financial disclosure showed large post-election inflows of foreign and corporate capital into his business empire. Those funds came mainly from more than $1bn in cryptocurrency ventures, after he loosened regulation of the industry, as well as from international real estate.
During his first year as president, the Trump Organisation, the family-owned multinational company focused on property development and global brand licensing, made eight real estate deals with authoritarian or one-party foreign states. Some have speculated that these countries were keen to keep relations with the United States favourable, in order to keep Trump satisfied on trade tariffs, military protection and private business dealings.
The administration has repeatedly dismissed concerns about conflicts of interest in Trump’s business affairs. It maintains that he acts solely in the interest of Americans.
Approval falls as legality views split by party
A separate poll in late September found Trump’s approval rating had dropped to 32 percent, the lowest of his political career. Republicans reportedly soured on his handling of the cost of living, amid the Iran war, which the report described as deeply unpopular. His approval stood at 47 percent in January 2025, right after he took office.
The AP-NORC poll, which surveyed more than 2,000 US adults in late September, found that opinion on the administration’s ethical conduct is highly polarised. Far more citizens felt the president had prioritised neither the country as a whole nor everyday Americans.
Just over 40 percent of respondents said Trump had “done something illegal” in relation to allegations of personal enrichment while in office. Another 18 percent described his financial dealings as “unethical but not illegal”. Views on legality also split sharply along party lines. Democrats overwhelmingly viewed the actions as illegal, while about three in 10 independents and about one in 10 Republicans said his behaviour was justified.
