While Washington gridlock deepens over the ongoing government shutdown, one thing remains clear — Republican voters aren’t budging on their support for President Donald Trump.
According to Gallup’s latest poll, Americans’ approval of Congress has dropped sharply to just 15%, with nearly four in five expressing disapproval. But despite the Capitol chaos, Trump’s approval remains steady at 41%, showing little sign of erosion even as the political standoff stretches into its third week.
The survey, conducted from Oct. 1–16, 2025 — during both the shutdown and just days after the Trump administration’s successful Israel-Hamas ceasefire — highlights a growing divide between frustration with Congress and confidence in Trump’s leadership.
Among Republicans, approval of Congress plummeted by 21 points, while independents’ approval dipped nine points. Democrats, who already held a low 7% approval of the GOP-controlled Congress, dropped slightly to 5%. But when it comes to Trump, Republicans remain unwavering: 91% still back the president’s performance, compared to 33% of independents and 6% of Democrats.
This stability suggests that conservatives see Trump’s leadership — even in turbulent times — as purposeful and decisive, particularly as he balances domestic standoffs with high-stakes foreign diplomacy. His handling of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and efforts to free hostages underscore a president willing to lead from the front, even while navigating political opposition at home.
Historically, Trump’s current 40.3% approval rating places him slightly below the postwar average for presidents in their third quarter, but higher than his own early-term lows and notably better than figures like Nixon at similar stages. Yet raw numbers don’t tell the full story — no other modern president has faced the kind of coordinated media hostility, partisan investigations, and institutional resistance Trump continues to confront daily.
The takeaway? Despite the headlines about dysfunction in Congress, the conservative base remains firmly aligned behind a president they see as fighting for them — against bureaucratic overreach, global instability, and a Washington establishment that still hasn’t adjusted to the America First reality.
