President Donald Trump’s approval rating among independent voters has climbed to 34% in a new Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday, June 24, marking his strongest performance with the crucial voting bloc since December. While Trump’s overall numbers remain underwater, the latest survey suggests his standing with swing voters might be stabilizing after a difficult stretch. The improvement follows months of declining support among independents and offers a potential boost for the president as his foreign policy and handling of the economy remain significant voter concerns.
Independent support for Donald Trump rebounds after months of decline
The Quinnipiac poll found Trump’s approval rating among independents at 34%, compared to 59% who disapprove of his job performance. Although a majority of independents continue to view the president negatively, the figure represents a notable increase from recent surveys. Just last month, Trump’s approval rating among independents stood at 26%, with 64% disapproving. In April, he registered a 27% approval rating against 63% disapproval. The latest results mark his highest level of support among independents since December, when 35% approved and 58% disapproved. Earlier in his second term, a January 2025 Quinnipiac poll showed Trump with a 41% approval rating among independents and a 46% disapproval rating.
Overall approval remains underwater
The recent survey found Trump’s overall approval rating at 38%, compared to 55% disapproval among registered voters nationwide. The poll surveyed 1,165 self-identified registered voters between June 18 and June 22. It carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.
Iran conflict continues to weigh on voters
Despite the improvement in Trump’s independent approval rating, the poll revealed substantial public skepticism toward U.S. military action against Iran. Sixty percent of voters said the operation was not worth it, while nearly half said the U.S. is too supportive of Israel.
Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy commented on the results, saying, “[Benjamin] Netanyahu gets poor marks from American voters as their appetite for supporting Israel wanes, with the share of voters who think the U.S. is too supportive of Israel hitting a new high.”
White House defends Trump administration’s Iran policy
Responding to the results of the Quinnipiac poll, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle defended the Trump administration’s approach to the conflict with Iran. In a statement to Newsweek, Ingle said, “What matters most to the American people is having a commander-in-chief who takes decisive action to eliminate threats and keep them safe, which is exactly what the president did with Operation Epic Fury. President Trump campaigned proudly on his promise to deny the Iranian regime the ability to develop a nuclear weapon, which is exactly what this noble mission and performance-based memorandum of understanding accomplishes. The president does not make these incredibly important national security decisions based on fluid opinion polls, but on the best interest of the American people.”
Other surveys paint a less favorable picture
Although the Quinnipiac poll shows Trump’s standing has improved among independents, other recent surveys paint a less favorable picture. A The Economist/YouGov poll released this week found Trump’s approval rating among independents at 25%, with 66% disapproving. An American Research Group poll similarly found 25% approval and 69% disapproval among independents.
Notably, Republicans have traditionally viewed independents as a critical voting bloc in closely contested elections, making any movement among them politically significant.