President Donald Trump is experiencing a sudden boost in support, especially from conservative independents who felt the White House was bungling key issues such as the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Behind his approval rating uptick isn’t a sense that the White House is doing a better job, but the assassination of popular conservative activist Charlie Kirk and concerns about growing political violence against the Right.
Rasmussen Reports pollster Mark Mitchell said his daily survey showed a notable surge of support for Trump that pushed the president into positive approval rating territory. Today’s approval rating is 51% to 47% disapprove.
“Trump approval blasts up to net +4 today. That’s the highest since July 1st,” said Mitchell on X.
The pollster told Washington Secrets that it appears two trends are at work.
Trump approval blasts up to net +4 today.
That’s the highest since July 1st.
— Mark Mitchell, Rasmussen Reports (@honestpollster) September 18, 2025
First, he said, more conservatives and independents are answering calls from pollsters, boosting their effect on polls. “And a likely voter poll measures who says they are inclined to vote. So it is an important signal.”
Second, the murder of Kirk by an alleged leftist who was angry over the activist’s conservative politics, coupled with two assassination attempts on Trump, have prompted conservative independents to support Trump after they felt he bumbled the response to the Epstein scandal, nearly pushed the United Stateds to war with Iran, and failed to deliver on all his promises in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Mitchell told Washington Secrets, “This was a major wake up call and people are likely reprioritizing. We had 90% concerned about political violence in a poll yesterday, beating inflation and the highest number I remember in recent history. I think the main effect is more conservative independents coming back after Trump lost them over Epstein, OBBB and Iran.”
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Trump, wrapping up a short state visit to London today, is planning to play a large role at Kirk’s funeral Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Several members of his administration are expected to speak.
It is expected to mark a new rallying cry for Make America Great Again and the success of fighting left-wing critics, including late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, whom ABC suspended after seeming to blame the assassination of Kirk on the Right.