Former President Donald Trump embarked on his second term with a stronger approval rating compared to the beginning of his first term eight years prior, according to a recent national poll by Quinnipiac University. The survey, conducted during Trump's first week back in office (January 23-27), showed a 46% approval rating and a 43% disapproval rating.

This marks a notable increase from his initial term's commencement in late January 2017, where Quinnipiac's poll indicated a 36% approval and 44% disapproval. The poll highlights a significant partisan divide, with Republicans overwhelmingly approving (86%) and Democrats disapproving (86%) of Trump's performance. Independent voters showed a more divided response, with 41% approving and 46% disapproving.

Although Trump's second-term starting approval surpasses his first, it remains lower than former President Biden's initial rating of 49% approval and 36% disapproval in early February 2021. Biden's approval, however, declined later in 2021 following criticism of his administration's handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, rising inflation, and increased border crossings.

Trump's initial weeks were marked by a flurry of executive actions, fulfilling campaign promises and asserting his influence. He highlighted these actions, claiming an unprecedented level of effectiveness for a presidential opening week. The poll also revealed public opinion on specific policy decisions, with 60% approving of sending troops to the southern border and 44% supporting the deportation of all undocumented immigrants. Conversely, 57% disapproved of Trump's pardons related to the January 6th Capitol attack.

Public opinion was also divided on Biden's preemptive pardons issued in his final hours in office, and a majority (53%) disapproved of Elon Musk's prominent role in the Trump administration.

The poll also indicated a decline in favorability for the Democratic Party, with 31% holding a favorable view and 57% an unfavorable view—the highest unfavorable rating recorded by Quinnipiac. The Republican Party, on the other hand, reached its highest favorability rating in Quinnipiac polling, with 43% holding a favorable view.

The Quinnipiac poll surveyed 1019 registered voters nationwide, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points.