New Poll Finds Most Americans See Trump's Second Term as Driven by Personal Profit

A fresh nationwide survey has found that a majority of adults in the United States believe President Donald Trump has put his own financial interests, and those of his close associates, ahead of the nation's wellbeing since he returned to the White House in 2025. The poll, carried out by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and made public on Tuesday, paints a largely negative picture of how the public views the Republican president's priorities during his second term.

According to the findings, more than half of those questioned said Trump has devoted "a lot" of attention to building his own business and commercial ventures while in office. Only about a quarter of respondents felt he has concentrated on the country's interests, and a mere 11 percent believed he genuinely represents ordinary Americans. The results suggest a widespread perception that pursuing personal wealth has become the central focus of his presidency, at least to some degree.

The survey also revealed notable discomfort even within the president's own political base. Fifty-five percent of Republicans who took part said Trump has prioritised his personal business interests either "a lot" or "some" of the time. That figure is significant because it indicates that doubts about his financial motivations are not confined to opposition voters but have seeped into his own party's ranks.

Half of all respondents said Trump has given no priority at all to people "like them," a finding that underscores a sense of disconnect between the president and the everyday concerns of many citizens. The poll was conducted in late September and involved more than 2,000 US adults, giving it a broad national snapshot of public opinion at a time of considerable political turbulence.

The survey comes against the backdrop of Trump's June financial disclosure, which showed enormous inflows of foreign and corporate money into his business empire after the election. Much of that surge stemmed from more than $1bn in cryptocurrency ventures, which benefited from his administration's decision to loosen regulation on the industry, as well as from international real estate dealings. The disclosure fuelled concerns that policy decisions and private profit may be intertwined.

Further scrutiny has focused on the Trump Organisation, the multinational family enterprise devoted to property development and global brand licensing. During Trump's first year back in office, the company reportedly struck eight real estate deals with authoritarian or one-party foreign states. Observers have speculated that some of these governments were eager to maintain favourable relations with Washington in order to secure advantages on issues such as trade tariffs, military protection and private business arrangements.

The White House has consistently rejected suggestions of conflict of interest. Administration officials have maintained that Trump acts solely in the interest of the American people and that his business activities are separate from his governing responsibilities. Critics, however, argue that the scale and nature of the dealings make such a separation difficult to sustain, particularly when foreign governments stand to gain from courting the president's commercial empire.

The new poll also gauged public sentiment on the ethics and legality of Trump's financial conduct. Just over 40 percent of respondents said they believe he has "done something illegal" in relation to allegations of personal enrichment while in office. A further 18 percent described his financial dealings as "unethical but not illegal," meaning that nearly six in ten Americans harbour some form of concern about the propriety of his conduct.

Opinions on the lawfulness of Trump's financial practices divide sharply along party lines. Democrats overwhelmingly view his actions as illegal, while about three in ten independents share that view. Among Republicans, only around one in ten see his behaviour as unlawful, with most in his party regarding his financial activities as justified or at least acceptable. This polarisation reflects the broader partisan split that has come to define American politics in recent years.

The AP-NORC findings echo other recent polling that suggests Trump's standing with the public has weakened. In late September, a separate Reuters/Ipsos survey found that his approval rating had dropped to 32 percent, the lowest level of his political career. That decline was attributed partly to Republican voters souring on his handling of the cost-of-living crisis, set against the backdrop of a deeply unpopular war with Iran.

That slump marks a dramatic reversal from January 2025, when Trump had just been inaugurated and enjoyed a 47 percent approval rating. The fall of 15 percentage points over a period of months signals growing disillusionment among key segments of the electorate, including some voters who had previously supported him. The new poll's findings on personal enrichment appear to reinforce the broader trend of eroding confidence.

Taken together, the survey results indicate that questions about Trump's financial entanglements are not fading but instead becoming a central feature of how the public evaluates his presidency. For supporters, the focus on wealth creation may be seen as a hallmark of his business-minded approach to governance. For critics, it represents a troubling blurring of the line between public duty and private gain.

The implications extend beyond approval ratings. If a substantial share of Americans, including many Republicans, believe the president is prioritising his own finances, that perception could shape the political landscape heading into future elections and influence how voters assess candidates aligned with him. It could also intensify pressure for greater transparency around the president's business dealings and for stronger ethical safeguards.

Ultimately, the poll captures a country deeply divided over Trump's conduct but leaning toward scepticism about his motives. While his base remains largely loyal, the data suggest that the argument that he is working primarily for himself rather than for the nation has gained traction with a significant portion of the American public.