Trump’s approval rating hits record high in recent AP survey

Hold onto your hats, folks — President Donald Trump has just notched a personal best with a 45% job approval rating in the latest AP-NORC poll, a number that’s got the chattering class buzzing, as Breitbart reports.

This unexpected jump, up five points from 40% in July, comes on the heels of Trump’s bold move to send the National Guard into Washington, D.C., to tackle the city’s spiraling violent crime problem, a decision that seems to have struck a chord with many Americans.

Let’s rewind a bit to two weeks before the poll, when Trump made the call to deploy the National Guard to assist local law enforcement in the nation’s capital. Violent crime has been a festering issue there, and the president’s decisive action appears to have shifted public perception in his favor.

Crime concerns drive public support

The AP-NORC findings paint a grim picture of public sentiment on crime, with two-thirds of Americans viewing it as a major national problem and a whopping 80% seeing it as a critical issue in big cities. It’s no surprise, then, that Trump’s law-and-order stance is gaining traction.

“Two-thirds of the public think crime is a major problem,” the poll notes, and when you’ve got 8 in 10 folks worried about urban safety, that’s a wake-up call louder than a foghorn. If progressive policies can’t secure the streets, maybe it’s time to rethink who’s got the right approach. Turns out, a firm hand can resonate when chaos looms large.

Now, let’s talk numbers — 55% of Americans, including a surprising 30% of Democrats and 46% of Independents, find it acceptable to use the military or National Guard to back up local police. That’s a coalition you don’t see every day, and it suggests Trump’s gamble might be paying off.

Approval on crime outpaces economic worries

On the specific issue of crime, Trump’s approval stands at a solid 53%, with just 45% giving him a thumbs-down. That’s a stronger showing than many expected, especially in a poll from an outlet often seen as leaning left.

Compare that to his economic numbers, where approval has also ticked up five points to 43% from 38% last month, though a majority—54% — still disapprove. It’s clear that crime, not the economy, is the issue putting wind in Trump’s sails right now.

Digging deeper, this 45% overall approval is the highest the Associated Press has recorded for Trump since they started tracking his performance back in 2016. That’s a milestone worth noting, especially when the RealClearPolitics average pegs his approval at an even higher 46.2%, though disapproval lingers at 50.9%.

National Guard deployment sparks debate

The National Guard deployment itself has been a lightning rod, but the public seems to be leaning toward support rather than scorn. When over half of Americans back the idea of military assistance for police, it’s a sign that safety concerns are trumping ideological purity.

Critics might argue this move oversteps federal authority, but when cities are grappling with violent crime epidemics, sitting on your hands isn’t an option. Actions have consequences, and in this case, they seem to be tilting in Trump’s favor.

Let’s not ignore the broader context — crime isn’t just a D.C. problem; it’s a national headache that’s got people on edge from coast to coast. The AP-NORC data shows the depth of that frustration, and Trump’s response appears to be meeting the moment for many.

Strategic balancing act

Still, with nearly half the country disapproving of his overall performance, Trump isn’t out of the woods yet. The challenge will be sustaining this momentum without alienating those who remain skeptical of his broader agenda.

On the flip side, this approval surge on crime could signal an opening for Trump to push harder on law-and-order policies, especially in urban areas where public concern is sky-high. It’s a tightrope, but one he seems willing to walk.

At the end of the day, this AP-NORC poll offers a rare glimpse of bipartisan agreement on a contentious issue, and Trump’s record-high approval suggests that when push comes to shove, results matter more than rhetoric. If safety becomes the defining issue, expect more surprises down the road—and maybe a few more points in the approval column.