Donald Trump’s Honesty Rating Hits New Low

President Donald Trump‘s honesty rating has fallen to its lowest point since he re-entered the White House, according to newly released polling.

Just 31 percent of Americans view Trump, according to the latest YouGov/Economist poll, conducted between August 9-11. And that trend is also present among Republicans. In January, 77 percent of Republicans said the president was trustworthy. By August, that had dropped to 71 percent, while those finding him untrustworthy doubled from 7 percent to 14 percent.

Why It Matters

A president’s perceived honesty is a key driver of public trust, shaping both voter enthusiasm and their willingness to believe campaign promises. For Trump, whose political brand has long relied on projecting authenticity to his base, a sustained decline in honesty ratings could weaken his ability to roll out his agenda.

What To Know

Mounting Pressure Over Epstein Files

The latest polling comes as Trump is facing mounting criticism for his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI recently released a memo and video stating that Epstein died by suicide in 2019 and that no secret “client list” exists, directly countering years of speculation and conspiracy theories. This disclosure has sparked further anger from Trump supporters and victims’ advocates, who believe the administration is withholding key details.

In a significant legal setback for transparency efforts, a federal judge in Manhattan denied the Trump administration’s request to unseal grand jury transcripts from Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell‘s prosecution, calling the move more of a diversion than a genuine attempt to release new information. A similar request in Florida was also rejected, with the court citing legal precedent. These rulings leave many of the case’s most sensitive records under seal.

Meanwhile, Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence, has held multiple meetings with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to discuss the case. Her legal team has reportedly floated the idea of a presidential pardon and is appealing her conviction, arguing that Epstein’s 2007 non-prosecution agreement should have applied to her as well. Maxwell’s recent transfer to a minimum-security prison has intensified outrage from survivors, who see it as further evidence of leniency toward those linked to Epstein.

And public frustration has only grown. Billionaire Elon Musk has urged Trump to “just release the files as promised,” while author Michael Wolff has speculated that Trump may be seeking major distractions to shift attention away from the Epstein fallout. Victims and advocacy groups remain adamant that all records be made public, arguing that the current handling of the case “smacks of a cover-up.”

Public discontent is also reflected in the polls. Only 20 percent of Americans said they approve of Trump’s handling of the Epstein case in the most recent YouGov/Economist poll. And 71 percent say they think Trump knew a lot or something about Epstein’s crimes. Just 8 percent said they believe he did not know anything. Trump has maintained that he had no knowledge of or involvement in Epstein’s crimes.

Economic Confidence Slips

Meanwhile, the economy is also causing a headache for Trump. Inflation rose to 2.7 percent in June.

That is despite Trump’s previous promise to end inflation on day one of his second term. “Starting on day one, we will end inflation and make America affordable again, to bring down the prices of all goods,” he said during a rally in Bozeman, Montana, in August 2024.

And job growth slowed sharply in July, with just 73,000 new jobs added—down from 147,000 the previous month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate edged up to 4.2 percent, though it remains near historic lows. After last month’s jobs report was published, Trump fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer. In a post, Trump accused McEntarfer—without offering evidence—of rigging the numbers to harm his administration.

Now, only 22 percent say the government’s unemployment rates are accurate.

There are also concerns about Trump’s tariff program. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick predicted $50 billion in monthly revenue from the new import taxes, which came into effect this month. But JPMorgan warned that 60 percent of the increased costs are expected to be passed on to American consumers through higher prices.

Amid those concerns, approval of Trump’s handling of the economy has fallen sharply this year. In January, 49 percent approved and 37 percent disapproved. By August, approval had dropped to 41 percent, while disapproval had risen to 52 percent.

His ratings on inflation show a similar slide. In January, 45 percent approved and 39 percent disapproved. By August, only 35 percent approved, compared with 58 percent who disapproved.

What Happens Next

The Republican-led House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the DOJ for its files on Epstein, with a deadline of August 19 to hand them over, suggesting the issue isn’t going away for the president anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Trump’s new nominee to run the BLS hinted at suspending the monthly release of jobs data. August’s numbers are due to be published in the first week of September.